Depending on what type of agent you are working with, that will almost always have an effect on your pocket.
(Almost always, because there are situations where an outside force is beyond agents control.

Example: really nice home appears on the market and there are already 20 buyers waiting for it, offering more than the asking price. That is what happens now in Phoenix. In some price ranges. But still: you can write an offer in a competitive way.

So what are the types?

#1.Competitive :

Very aggressive, doesn’t listen and commits unfair acts that make the other side wondering what is happening behind the scenes.  Tries to intimidate other agents in various ways.

Is there a financial benefit for a seller when using this type of aggressive listing agent?

If a listing agent has this attitude, and buyer’s agent had previous nightmare experience with him or her, what is a chance buyer’s agent will show his listing again? 0% – if there is nothing special about it.

That is right: Why would we want to work with someone who will be responsible for our premature death? Result : lost showings.

There are other ways to get aggressive in a positive way: i.e via aggressive marketing.

As a buyer: will being represented by this kind of agent help you to win a better price of the home you want? Well.. sometimes sellers seeing this attitude will get defensive and will not lower the price, will not give the concessions.
Sale – is more than numbers.

London School of Business research says: too aggressive, too competitive people DO NOT help build companies. They destroy their structure.
In the same way they can destroy a short term relationship that is a structure of real estate transaction.

#2. Collaborative :

Will do anything to win his / her clients best terms in a sale AT THE SAME TIME understands that relationship in this profession is everything and can find creative ways to make mutually satisfying agreements. WIN – win.
To influence the other side the agent will use facts about the market/ property/ buyer /seller .
Maybe it is enough to remember what is the main purpose of our work.

#3. Cooperative :

Win – win – steady and supportive.  Is relying on a sense of fairness to reach a solutions.
(fairness needs to be defined; it depends on what is our principle, fairness may be otherwise just another word that is intimidating, relative, and describing something that doesn’t sound fair for you at all. Sometimes it is better when the other side doesn’t really know what do you have to lose or to win…)

#4. Compliant :

They are more concerned of being accepted and will avoid conflict at all cost. Sometimes they do not communicate enough, but are willing to sacrifice. You want this agent on the OTHER side.

Help in classification: Negotiation Expertise, LLC

And this is what I thought of: (and I guess this is a perspective of a total control freak) I would do a lot of work on my own before I could make a commitment to work with one person.

1. I would visit the town at least twice before. I would drive around as much as possible looking for “hints”

2. I would read  online whatever possible about the best places to live there. Especially places that would allow me the lifestyle I want to have.

3. I would talk to people: (online friends, people in the town, strangers met randomly, bartenders, waiters…. Realtors too.  : ) because the best place can really mean different things to everyone.
i.e.  Gilbert was chosen once  as one of the 3 best places to live in Metro Phoenix. (Phoenix Magazine)
However: Forbes magazine has chosen the city as one of the most boring in USA.

4. I would check criminal stats and compare them to other places in the town.

5. I would google everything.

6. I think I would rather rent for 3-6 months to get a better feel and in the meantime I would read  the  real estate contract and addenda and ask my agent for explanation of things that are not clear to me. A good agent should be very happy to explain everything in the details and make sure that there is not one thing that you don’t understand.

While interviewing an agent I would  slice him and dice him and watch for red flags like:

“this is a safe area”,  “there is no crime here”, “It is a quiet neighborhood” “trust me..”, ” trust me,  everything will be all right, just sign the dotted line please”  “maybe you want to check out the South part of town, there are many Polish people there” …nnnope…  “this is a perfect time to buy a house” … I have developed an allergic reaction to such cliches; a perfect time to buy a house is when I want to buy a house. Except when I need to participate in a bidding war. As I recall “a perfect time to buy a house” was also in 2005.

7. I would talk to couple Realtors, I would give each of them a chance to impress me. I would look for honesty, modesty;
I could not stand if someone had  a huge ego, (it rather hurts negotiations)

I would look for an ability to handle stressful situation , having things under control, and I would like to have a feeling that I am the most important person for her while she is working with me.

I would like her to LISTEN , really LISTEN to me, because there must be nothing more frustrating than someone trying to shape you according to their vision.

That is just like a hair stylist who will cut your hair according to what they like, not how you want it.

HOWEVER… HOWEVER.. as a Realtor I need to say- it happens to me ALL THE TIME: a new client says: I have to have such and such .. and they purchase a completely different property..

8.  Definitely I would like the Realtor to show me few places before I would make the commitment.
I would like to check if they annoy me or answer all my questions in a satisfactory manner. If the agent opens a home for me,  than walks in front of me “to show me the home” and talks all the time…

I would fire her this very minute.
I think people need to have a little more faith in the others intellectual capabilities: I don’t need anyone to show me:  “…and here is the bathroom and here is the kitchen  and here is the doggie door” ….  believe me: I see it!!!!

Writing this I realized how much trust you must have in someone who represents you…

We need to eliminate the unnecessary stress from our lives.

I hear too often: I don’t like my Realtor.

Ok, than make the decision fast; work with someone whom – on top of all those other  very important things-   you like!