How to Get the Most Out of Your Agent

The relationship between you and your real estate agent should always be productive. 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, start working on how you can 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, be clear whether or not you can be contacted at work should your dream home suddenly hit the market. Clarifying these somewhat obvious details ahead of time will mean fewer miscommunications down the road.

Be clear on which features are essential in 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 may be a good idea to “look outside the box” at homes that don’t completely match your criteria.

If you're selling your home, make sure you discuss any issues that could help or hinder the sale. Agents can offer great advice on staging so show them everything no matter how insignificant. 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.

The key to any strong relationship is communication. The partnership between you and your agent will hopefully continue for many years after you land your dream home! Please don’t ever hesitate to email or call with any real estate related questions you may have.