Enlisting a broker?

[rturbett]

Looking for recommendations on favorite brokers to work with on the purchase of a Mooney.

Besides doing the searching for the potential candidates, (which I have been doing, with more than a fair number of candidates) what other expectations do you have when you enlist a brokers service?

Thanks,

Rob

 

 

[Jeff Uphoff]

I probably won't be the only person to bring up the name Jimmy Garrsion at GMax in Texas (https://www.gmaxamericanaircraft.com).

I've bought two Mooneys through him (a 231 and my current Ovation), sold one (the same 231), and traded one in (an M20C, when I moved up to that 231).

I daresay he knows the Mooney market as thoroughly as anyone.

--Up.

[toto]

Jimmy Garrison is very well regarded here on MS.  I believe his handle is @jgarrison

https://www.gmaxamericanaircraft.com/

[201Mooniac]

Definitely +1 to Jimmy

[bcg]

I know everyone has had good things to say about GMAX but, I could never get a response to any of my inquiries on planes they are listed when I was shopping. I ended up finding my C on my own and dealing directly with the seller.

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[Stubby]

7 minutes ago, bcg said:

I know everyone has had good things to say about GMAX but, I could never get a response to any of my inquiries on planes they are listed when I was shopping. I ended up finding my C on my own and dealing directly with the seller.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk
 

I'm sadly dealing with that exact issue right now. Very hard to get a hold of or get any real information out of.

[rturbett]

Lets try- making a call right now!

 

Rob

[ArtVandelay]

I know everyone has had good things to say about GMAX but, I could never get a response to any of my inquiries on planes they are listed when I was shopping. I ended up finding my C on my own and dealing directly with the seller.

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Hmmm, responding to potential customers has to be priority 1 in the broker business. I understand not wanting to just answering random questions, but if specific to a plane he’s selling, he better respond if he’s my broker.

[alextstone]

@jgarrison...fyi

 

[Jeff Uphoff]

4 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Hmmm, responding to potential customers has to be priority 1 in the broker business. I understand not wanting to just answering random questions, but if specific to a plane he’s selling, he better respond if he’s my broker.

I'd politely assert that following through on deals in progress for established customers to ensure their efficient closure would be a slightly higher priority, there already being money changing hands for deposits, inspections, etc., but that's a minor quibble; your point re ensuring good communications in general is 100% valid.

Jimmy worked a near miracle to ensure my 231 sale closed given the 2008 economic collapse started after we'd already gone under contract and started inspections, etc.; and said collapse had a huge impact on currency exchange rates, which really put a pinch on my non-US buyer. But we got it done!

--Up.

[Pinecone]

I bought mine through Jimmy.  I put a deposit on another one that the owner would not accept my offer (low due to concerning tings in the engine logs).

The one I bought, Jimmy worked to get the deal closed in a very short period of time, due to interest rate lock expiring and looking at a LARGE bump in rate.

I did not find him hard to get in contact with.

[KLRDMD]

5 hours ago, rturbett said:

Lets try- making a call right now!

He's much more responsive to E-Mail as he's often not in the office bringing airplanes to his office, delivering them, etc.

[Steve Dawson]

I sold my Bravo through Jimmy and would sell or buy my next through him too. He surrounds himself closely with great support like Don and Paul Maxwell and has his own very competent staff Lynn and Tamara. 

Best way to contact Jimmy is definitely through email or text. 

[Jeff Uphoff]

1 hour ago, Steve Dawson said:

Best way to contact Jimmy is definitely through email or text. 

Agreed. I've usually arranged phone calls with him via other media, such as email/text. I'm the exact same way myself, so it 100% works for me.  

[bcg]

He's much more responsive to E-Mail as he's often not in the office bringing airplanes to his office, delivering them, etc.

I sent 3 different emails about 3 different planes at different times and didn't get a response to any of them. I also asked for the Buyer's Guide he offers (or offered) and didn't get a response to that either.

Maybe my experience is abnormal, I can't say. I can just say that it was my experience. I didn't finance my plane, I didn't finance, I had cash in hand so I was definitely serious but, it's possible that I didn't come across as such for some reason and was ignored. I don't know, I can only tell you what happened with me and that when it's time for me to upgrade to a 252 or Bravo, I doubt I'll be using a broker because of that experience. It was much easier dealing directly with a seller that would respond than trying to chase down a broker that wouldn't, for me anyway.

Obviously, others have had completely different experiences and I'm happy that was the case for them. I'm not saying anything negative about him as a person since I never had any contact with him, he may be great, I wouldn't know.

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[rturbett]

I was able to reach jimmy, a call back shortly after my initial call. 
 

 

[mooneyflyer]

Richard Simile without a doubt

[Brandt]

I’ve heard good things about Jimmy Garrison, but my experience is with Richard Simile at Thunderbird. I’d trust him with my wallet and he’s just a great guy.  

https://thunderbirdaircraft.com

[Danb]

Jimmy sold my Bravo and I bought my Acclaim from Richard. Both were very good

[M20F]

Jimmy Garrison

[KLRDMD]

18 hours ago, bcg said:

I sent 3 different emails about 3 different planes at different times and didn't get a response to any of them. I also asked for the Buyer's Guide he offers (or offered) and didn't get a response to that either. Maybe my experience is abnormal, I can't say. I can just say that it was my experience. I didn't finance my plane, I didn't finance, I had cash in hand so I was definitely serious but, it's possible that I didn't come across as such for some reason and was ignored. I don't know, I can only tell you what happened with me and that when it's time for me to upgrade to a 252 or Bravo, I doubt I'll be using a broker because of that experience. It was much easier dealing directly with a seller that would respond than trying to chase down a broker that wouldn't, for me anyway.

I would think that's abnormal. Stuff happens. I've had dozens of E-mails over the years and a few phone calls with Jimmy, all answered in a timely manner. 

[KLRDMD]

For what it's worth I can also highly recommend Neal Schwartz <neal.schwartz@gmail.com> although he's mostly a Bonanza/Baron/TBM guy. I've worked with Neal a bunch over the years too. I'm in the process of buying my 20th airplane so I've had occasion to work with a number of brokers over the years, the majority of which I cannot recommend.

[Schllc]

The challenge with a buying broker is there is no “standard” for payment the way there is for a selling broker. The business does not pay a commission to the “buying agent.”
Figuring a way to compensate the broker who is helping you make a purchase that is not limited to the planes they are currently representing can get expensive, so if you really want a buyers agent that will work for you,  you have to figure a way to pay them. 
I have bought planes from both Jimmy and Richard, I have not hired either of them to help me find a plane. 

[bcg]

16 hours ago, KLRDMD said:

I would think that's abnormal. Stuff happens. I've had dozens of E-mails over the years and a few phone calls with Jimmy, all answered in a timely manner. 

Maybe it was something about how I inquired that got me screened and ignored.  I was serious and thought I came across as such but, who knows.  Again, I'm not saying this is normal, I'm just relating what my experience was with several attempts to make contact, I'm glad yours was different.

[rturbett]

Jimmy was very clear- he is employed by the seller, as I would expect most brokers to be. My original post should have read " Brokers people are comfortable working with"  and the people mentioned have so far lived up to that.

Rob