The relationship between you and your real estate agent should always be productive and honest which is why having an open line of communication is absolutely critical to ensuring a win-win partnership!
Once you’ve discussed and agreed on your agency relationship, it’s time to start working on ways to communicate effectively. Communication is a two-way street, so both parties need to be open and honest at the outset.
Start with the basics by discussing your contact preferences. For instance, specify whether or not you can be contacted at work should your dream home suddenly hit the market. Clarifying these details ahead of time will result in fewer miscommunications down the road.
Also, be clear on which features are essential for your new home. Ranking your priorities will help your agent conduct a more efficient search. However, always try to keep an open mind as it can sometimes be a good idea to “look outside the box” and view homes that don’t entirely match your criteria.
If you’re selling your home, make sure you discuss any issues that could either help or hinder the sale. Agents can offer great advice on staging so show them everything no matter how insignificant. For instance, that tiny crawl space you weren’t even thinking of mentioning could be marketed as a unique selling feature!
Finally, let your real estate agent know if your needs change and don’t ever hesitate to ask questions. If for whatever reason you’re not completely satisfied with the way things are going, be completely honest so you can resolve the problem straight away before any hasty decisions are made.
The key to any successful relationship is communication, and the partnership between you and your agent is one that will hopefully continue long after you’ve landed your dream home. That said, please don’t ever hesitate to get in touch with any real estate related questions you may have.