Should I be using a buy side broker/advisor for my first deal?
I'm still in the process of trying to find a property since the last time I posted here. I've been working with a buy side brokerage / advisor and relying on them to bring me deals. This is my first deal on my own and I'm worried about having someone help me through the process (negotiations, securing financing, etc). However, I get the feeling they haven't been giving me much love and I'm trying to figure out what to do. 

I actually work at a sell side brokerage but different market and very different type of asset. I haven't been able to get much help from my colleagues but I do have access to costar and experience utilizing other resources. My thoughts on how to move things forward 

1. Set up alerts and when something comes on market that I'm interested in and have my broker look into it for me
2. Directly contact the sell side brokers for the properties I find on costar and attempt to do everything on my own (or see if my current brokers would help me with the other aspects)
3. Try to find a new buy side broker or more than one

Does anyone have thoughts/opinions on these options. Or possibly an option I haven't thought of? I'm hesitant to go with number 3 because this brokerage has helped me with \_a lot\_ already. 

It's also probably worth noting that although I do work at a brokerage my role is more general market research. So I'm not intimately familiar with underwriting, when to ask for specific documents like T12, rent rolls, etc.
[{"id": "f9hbc29", "text": "I'm an agent, so take my opinion with a grain of salt regarding whether to use an agent or not. What makes you think you're not getting enough attention? Has the deal flow slowed down? Has it been a challenge to find something? Are you being overly picky? There is likely one of two things going on: either there are less properties being offered, or the broker has decided that you closing on something has a low probability. This time of year things slow down a little but don't dry up by any means. I think it's worth an honest conversation with your broker to see what's going on. When I work with a buyer I am clear and honest every step of the way. If my client is asking for something that isn't real or highly unlikely I tell them that and it isn't a comfortable conversation but it keeps us on the same page and keeps the buyer realistic. Not everyone does that.", "replies": [{"id": "f9i3ywh", "text": "Couple of things. My main point of contact quit and that's when things slowed down. They moved me up the food chain but I'm seeing one deal or so a month. It's possible they think there's a low probability of me closing because i passed on a few deals that in retrospect look good. But being picky at first because I didn't have a feel for the market had been discussed. I've made it known I'm ready to move. \n\nThe ones that have been sent my way since have already had pending offers. The situation has been I needed to make an offer that day or it would go to another buyer. The assets we sell at work are nine figure deals, but we typically have a property on the market for a while. With assets in the 2m range is that par for course? If the situation requires being that decisive I'll do what's necessary but typically I prefer to crunch numbers and wait a few days on large decisions.\n\nIt sounds like you're telling me I need to call and have a conversation about strategy going into the new year.", "replies": [{"id": "f9ik427", "text": "Smaller deals will move faster, and depending on location and property type they sell very quick. If you find something that looks good on the surface and you need to move quick you could make an offer and then evaluate. When you're getting them and need to decide that day are they new to the market?\n\nYes, ask for a meeting with whoever is representing you and discuss you plans and time frames. If you're on the same page and your broker sees you're motivated he/she should turn up the heat. Ask if what you're looking for is smaller than what he's used to. Make sure you communicate clearly what you're after. It's not fair to keep information to yourself and expect your broker to just know. Ask his opinion and be clear whether you agree or not. Many newer buyers I work with have conflicting expectations that are mutually exclusive, meaning they have to give on something for any transaction to happen, much less one they want. I have a group I'm working with that inherited a center. They want to sell it and exchange in to something bigger. They don't want to sell the downleg until they tie up the upleg. That'll never happen for what they're looking for. My comment to them was \"that'll never happen in a million years\". They're changing their approach and it isn't ideal for them but at least they know and aren't punching the clown with looking at properties they can't buy because they're afraid of the boot. I worked with one brother for six months before he told be his sister is the main hangup with the issue I described above. Had he told me on the front end they'd already be well on their way toward their backup plan.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f9hq1d8", "text": "Think you need to not limit yourself to one broker. This business is all about networking. The more brokers you \"work with\" the more deals you will end up seeing.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]