Anyone else exasperated by brokers?

August 23, 2025

by a searcher in Hoboken, NJ, USA

I'm relatively new to search and am stunned by how unprofessional many brokers are. One required a deposit and LOI before sharing financials. Another provided a data room with unrelated documents but left out the actual financials. In another case, the broker lacked the accounting knowledge to recognize why their EBITDA add-backs and valuation were clearly flawed. Each of these examples come from different firms. Maybe the play is to buy a brokerage, professionalize it, and roll-up the space?

1 Like

17 Replies

286 Views

Replies

Reply by a professional
from University of the Philippines Diliman in Philippines

Hi Anon, it can be really painful when dealing with brokers. But from their perspective it's painful to be dealing with searchers. Try to preempt unpleasant interactions by including a brief blurb about your professional background, how long you've been searching, your financing strategy (very important!) and mention any commitment / pre-approval letters. Also invest effort in your personal brand by creating a nice polished website. Good luck!

Reply by a searcher
from Lebanon Valley College in Media, PA 19063, USA

I agree with most of the other comments. There are going to be different categories of brokers. Some seem to provide all the data you are looking in one go while others require a lot of back and forth. Be professional, build rapport, and clearly communicate what you need and why. Educate them on your thought process/methodology. If you really can't stand working directly with a broker, you can try different methods of off market outreach.

+15 more replies.

Join the discussion