Buying and/or selling a home is a difficult and complicated process. That is why having a real estate agent is basically a requirement nowadays. But, that doesn’t mean you aren’t really the one in the driver’s seat during your real estate experience. People often seem to just sit back and let the realtor handle everything, but then they are secretly seething with anger at the way everything is working out. Instead of annoying all of your friends with you 987th retelling of how your real estate agent is not meeting your needs, just tell your agent! They are there to work for you, and here is a helpful guide of what to say to your real estate agent.
“I like X, Y, and Z. I hate A, B, and C.”
Tell your realtor what you like and what you don’t like in a house or patio. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people just let agents show them houses without ever saying what they actually like! If we buy houses St Charles – we inform our agent. If you absolutely need a house with crown molding, then tell your agent that so they can tailor their search towards your needs. If you hate houses with more carpet than hardwood, that would be an important detail to let your agent know. It saves the agent time by preventing showings of houses that you are not interested in, and it saves you time because you won’t have to look at a house that you know you’ll never buy.
“My price range is…”
There are so many great tools out there to help calculate how much house you can afford. A mortgage calculator is a great asset to getting an initial idea of your price range. Just plug in your expected down payment along with a target home price, then tweak that target home price until you reach a monthly estimate that you can afford. The general rule of thumb is to spend no more than 25% of your income on your housing situation. More importantly, ask one of the real estate agents Hilton Head before you even start looking to help you find a reliable, local lender who will look at your financial situation closely and ensure you can qualify and help you with a price range, so you avoid getting your hopes up on a house that is out of your price range. This all helps to refine the housing search and save valuable time for everyone involved.
“I feel out of the loop in this process.”
Some real estate agents can occasionally be neglectful of their clients. This is, in almost all cases, not because they don’t care or because they aren’t considerate of your needs. It is important to remember that real estate agents have a lot on their plates. With multiple clients all in different stages of the process, sometimes certain things fall through the cracks. Most experienced real estate agents are able to juggle all of these responsibilities and tasks wonderfully. But, we are all human and mistakes can be made. However, in the unlikely event that you haven’t heard from your agent in a while, reach out and ask for more updates. Definitely monitor the situation and, if this is a recurring problem, be prepared to say something a bit more harsh…
“You’re fired.”
This is obviously a tough one to say. But, you CAN say it if you feel like it is necessary. As we talked about in the last paragraph, sometimes things slip through the cracks for a realtor. This should be a rarity. If your real estate agent is constantly incommunicado or letting important details slip through, then it is time to seriously reconsider your hire. People feel bad about letting someone go, especially if that person only works on commission. But commissions are earned, not given. Your home buying or selling process is important, and entrusting it to someone who is not putting in the effort is a complete waste. How can a house sell if the agent is not working to garner interest, setting up open houses, or marketing the house on a variety of outlets? Telling someone to get lost is hard, but when it comes to your valuable time and to your right to feel like a valued customer, the decision becomes so much easier.
A great real estate agent really makes the difference when dealing with real estate. Above all else, just make sure your agent sees you as a priority and that you get along. The relationship between a realtor and a client is a weird one, as it requires so much trust in such a short amount of time. So, find someone you get along with and who seems sharp. Everything else should work out just fine.
First time home-buyer? Be sure to read our article of Real Estate Tips for First Time Home Buyers!