A home purchase is too large of a purchase for your real estate agent not to give you the attention that you need. In most cases, your real estate agent is obligated, by law, to meet your needs in the way you specify they should be met. To avoid problems or issues with your real estate agent later on in the process, you should set clear expectations during your first meeting.
If you have worked with a real estate agent before, then you already have some knowledge about how you would like the relationship to be handled. You might consider talking about these things with your new real estate agent. For example, if your previous agent never returned your phone calls or didn’t give clear answers to your questions, you might point this out so your agent knows to avoid doing these things. Make sure to include the good things your previous agent did as well.
You might also want to talk about your previous approach with buying or selling real estate. Discussing this with your real estate agent will give an indication as to how the two of you should proceed. It lets the real estate agent see if there were any gaps in the process and also see if there was some important information that may have been missed.
During this first session, you should take into account how well your real estate agent is listening to you. Good communication between the two of you will be one of the pillars of ensuring you purchase the best house for you. When you give your input on what you are looking for, it helps the real estate agent find the best neighborhood, school, and community for your needs.
Discuss your preferred method and timing of communication during this initial meeting. If you want to be contacted by phone once a week, this is the time to let the real estate agent know. Be prepared to negotiate your communication schedule as the real estate agent might not have complete flexibility to meet your wants. However, you should feel that he makes an honest attempt to communicate according to your schedule. Make sure that you show your appreciation for your real estate agent’s willingness for the attention that he is willing to give you. You’d be surprised at the impact this acknowledgement has on your relationship.
Try not to make it hard for your real estate agent to get information to you within a timely manner. Provide him with your voice mail and fax number so you can be easily reached. You don’t have to meet in person every time an information exchange is necessary. Use the technology available to communicate small bits of information and face to face time to tackle the big issues.
You are just as much in control of your relationship with your real estate agent as he. Make sure you are clear and upfront about your expectations, but take care not to be overly demanding. Remember that your agent will be working with other clients as well.
