Sometimes buyers think they will find more properties by working with someone at every agency in town. Whether that is effective or not depends on your area, but the practice can backfire.

If you're looking in the city, where agents sometimes work a very specific area, it might be best to develop a relationship with more than one agent. Even if they belong to an MLS that covers a broader base, they may only tell you about properties listed in the neighborhoods they want to work in. It can be a logistical problem for them to move beyond those boundaries, and they might not feel knowledgeable about properties located in other areas. Ask each agent to define the areas where he works.

The same is true in rural areas, where properties can be spread out over a multicounty area. The agents probably know about listings outside their base, but they may not be anxious to drive you hundreds of miles to find them. Just ask, and they'll tell you where they can realistically work.

Calling all of the agencies in town can actually backfire in small towns, where every agent knows each other and everyone draws from the same group of listings. You might be surprised how fast word travels about customers who call every agent asking for details about the same properties. Contact as many agents as it takes to find a good one, but keep in mind that if you call everyone all the time, you won't be taken as seriously as you might like.