Atlanta buyers agent upfront costs?

I’m about to sign up with a buyers agent in Atlanta.

I just wanted to run the contract past everyone to make sure the agreement seems reasonable.

I know you folks are busy but I would be super grateful if you could read over this and tell me if you think it sounds fair?

I have to pay cash upfront to engage his services.

I am sorry this is confusing you – but NO, I do not charge a Retainer fee PLUS a Commission. Forget the commission part for a moment, because every seller pays a commission to every buyers broker – it has nothing to do with you, the purchaser.  I charge investors the minimum fee I must have in order to help them evaluate and purchase investment property – this is what a Retainer is. Its temporary Insurance if you like. Now , here is how it works: ALL sellers (whether actual people or Bank REO asset managers) pays every Buyers Agent a Commission at closing, ranging from 3% which could be as little as $600, or more recently a flat fee usually of $900, and up to $1500 (for cheap properties under $60K) depending on price of property.  So your Retainer is insurance that I am not working for unacceptable fees like $600 – $900 for example. Most ordinary agents won't bother with that, and as a Broker/Owner and investment property expert who not only knows more than 95% of agents out there, but also performs free property analysis screenings for each client, there is no way I would work for that. I would not even do it for $1000 – I only do that for clients who buy three or more properties and who agree to have me manage (or sell) the investment property for them after purchase. Otherwise, I charge a minimum Retainer of $1500 period. Now, as I mentioned, and as the contract states, the Retainer is refunded to you or credited to your purchase at closing. So all the Retainer does is assure I am getting my minimum acceptable fee to bother with cheap properties – which is $1500 for the first property, and since you want to buy more, $1000 for every additional property. I simply accept the commission the seller offers to buyers agents, and if it falls short of my minimum fee, I pull from the Retainer to add to the Commission to equal either $1500 or $1000 as discussed above, and refund or credit you the rest.  So as I said before, you will have very little out of pocket on each deal over using an ordinary, and usually helpless agent, versus having an expert help assure you don't make a serious financial mistake. I hope you understand now