If you're looking for beach front property at Newport Beach, wouldn't it make sense to hire a Realtor who specializes in the ocean front property?  What good is a Realtor from San Bernardino going to be?  Is your local Realtor going to be qualified to answer your questions about owning a home on the ocean?  Are they going to know anything about the high tide?  What do you do to prepare for a big storm?  These are questions that you might want answers too.  Don't you think that it would be wise to hire a specialist who deals with nothing but ocean front homes?

If you want home in the High Desert of the San Bernardino County, wouldn't it be smart to locate an agent in that area.  An agent who specializes in the area and knows the difference between Apple Valley and Victorville?  If you have children, knowing what the schools are like and how close they are to the home that you're interested in buying would be good information to have.  Is your out of area agent going to know this?

It's good to find a Realtor that you like and trust.  He gave you great service in the past and you made a connection with him.  If that Realtor values you as a client, the best thing he can do for you is to refer you to a specialist in the area that you want to buy.

I can't tell you how many people come to Big Bear with a list of homes that they got from the down the hill Realtor.  As the down the hill Realtor doesn't have access to the property, they send the buyer up by themselves to view the homes.  They call the local Realtor and ask to see the property, yet they want their "friend" down the hill to represent him.  Their down the hill Realtor has not been to Big Bear, has NO IDEA what is or is not a good value, and they write ridiculous offers.  If they were really interested in their client's best interest, they would refer the buyer to a local specialist, such as myself and be happy with a 25% referral fee.

This past week I had a Realtor call me who has a client who wanted to buy in Big Bear. He admitted to me that he had no clue when it came to Big Bear and needed my help.  He wanted to come to Big Bear, sit down with me and basically, listen as I gave him a list of homes that he could show his client.  Heaven forbid, I brought up the subject of compensation and asked how I would be paid.  He simply stated that if I was the listing agent, then I would get paid as the listing agent.  I informed him that I didn't have any listings that would work and he then wanted to know if other agents in my office had listings that would work.  The answer to that question was yes, other agents in my office did have listings that would fit into what this guy was looking for.  Yet, he was very disturbed that I would not provide that list to him.  Again, I asked how I would get paid from this and he told me that I would have to work it out with the listing agent.  Now, If I understood this guy, he wants to come to Big Bear where I can fill him in on good areas to live, tell him about the schools, etc.  He then wanted a list of homes that would fit what HIS client was looking for.  And for my time and efforts, he said that I should work it out with the listing agent.

I have a better idea.  REFER the client to an expert in the area. That is the best thing that you can do for your client.  For God's sake, Don't be so greedy! Just for once,  think of what is best for your client!