Whether you hired a real estate agent to help you find your dream house, or to assist in getting your current home sold, it’s important that you feel comfortable communicating your wishes, expressing your concerns, and articulating your questions. Indeed, the relationship you have with your agent can become a pretty close one, and it’s sure to be more pleasant and more productive if you and your agent communicate honestly and openly with each other.
The question is how. Some buyers and sellers are unsure of how best to facilitate communications with their real estate professional. In this post, we’ve put together just a few guidelines and tips.
We’ll also invite you to request your SOLD.com seller’s report, which will provide you with some important house selling tips, including a recommendation on whether or not you should work with a traditional agent. Get your report today!
Tips for Communicating with Your Real Estate Agent
Start on the Right Foot
It’s important to establish expectations early in your working relationship. This means asking your agent how they prefer to communicate, while also articulating your own preferences.
For example, you can ask the agent how often they will be checking in with you; what methods they will use (text, phone, etc.); and how you can best reach them if you ever have a problem or a question. Also ask them about their responsiveness… for example, ask how long it typically takes them to return a call, to answer an email, etc.
Hopefully, your agent will want to know about your own preferences and expectations. Don’t hesitate to tell your agent how you prefer to communicate (phone call, email, etc.) and when you can be reached. For example, if you work 9-5 hours, it’s okay to ask your agent to get in touch with you in the evening. And, if it’s important to you that your agent calls you at least weekly for a general check-in/update, be upfront about that.
Most good agents will be willing to accommodate reasonable requests, but it’s unfair to expect them to be mind readers. Remember, communication is a two-way street!
How Often Should You Call?
Whether you’re trying to buy a place or get a place sold, it can be hard to know when it’s acceptable to call your agent. Naturally, you want your questions answered. You also don’t want to be a pest.
Hopefully, your agent will be proactive in keeping you informed, and will never make you feel like your needs are a nuisance. Indeed, a really good agent will make you feel like you are their top priority.
You should feel comfortable contacting your agent when you have a real issue or question, but it’s also important not to get carried away. Once you’re under contract, you probably don’t need to call your agent more than once or twice a day, if that. There may be exceptions, though, in highly fluid or complicated situations.
Before you’re under contract, you may have a lot of needs you’re juggling… showings, mortgage arrangements, etc. Ideally, your agent will advise and coach you on when to call. And if you feel your agent is aloof, you may want to consider finding a new one!
Think About Alternatives
We’d also advise that, while agents may not always be in a place where they can talk on the phone, it’s often much easier for them to answer a text. This is especially true if your question is something very straightforward and simple.
Talk to your agent about texting and make sure it’s okay with them, but in many instances, this can be an excellent way to stay in touch without overwhelming your agent with phone calls.
And of course, most agents will be fine with email, too, though it should be understood that email communication is generally reserved for non-urgent matters.
Get More House Selling Tips from SOLD.com
Maybe working with an agent is the best way for you to sell your house fast. Then again, you might be better off trying to sell your house fast via an iBuyer, flat fee broker, or even by going the FSBO route.
Get a personalized recommendation for how you should sell your house. Request your SOLD.com report today.
