Ways to Establish a Better Relationship with Your Realtor

Let's be honest. Whether you are buying or selling a home, there can be times when the working relationship between the client and the Realtor can be a bit-strained. To ensure you have the best experience possible, here are a few ways to establish a great relationship.

Set expectations upfront. When you hire a real estate agent, be sure to communicate your expectations, but be sure to be realistic in those expectations (for example, don't expect your Realtor to sell your home for $30,000 above market value when your home is standard). A good real estate agent will also have expectations of his or her client. By knowing at the beginning of the relationship what is expected from each party, things will flow smoothly throughout the home buying or selling process.

Communicate throughout the process. I'm not sure if I can truly express how important it is for clients to communicate with their agents. There is no such thing as too much communication when you are trying to buy or sell a home.

The communication should be on both ends-from client to Realtor and vice versa. Communication should not only be specific to the real estate activity (for example, recent showings, property feedback, making an offer, etc), but also periodically throughout the process when there are no specific activities happening. A client and his agent should "check in" a minimum of weekly to ensure expectations are being met on both sides. Any issues that arise can be overcome early with frequent communication.

Deliver on your deliverables. This simply means doing what you say you're going to do. Just as important as actually doing something is to do it on time. If your agent (or any other party in the home buying or selling process) requests information from you, provide that information-and by the expected date. You should also hold your Realtor accountable for his or her deliverables.

By implementing these tips when working to buy or sell a home, the process will be much smoother and much more effective. In addition, both you and your Realtor will be much happier over the course of the home sale.