Let Your Realtor Know What Your Expectations Are

Far too often, there is miscommunication between agents and buyers or sellers, or between agents and other agents. All of this can be circumvented quite easily by having a conversation at the beginning of your professional relationship.

Everyone has a different opinion on the following:

1. A big house
2. A small house
3. A big yard
4. A small yard
5. How quickly one should return calls and/or emails- and that one is a biggie!

Let's take the following for an example as to how communications between you and your agent can make all the difference in the world.

Let's say that one of the most important things to you in finding your new home is having a big yard.  That really is an ambiguous term- "big". What is big to one person is small to another. Same thing goes for the yard. Coming from one of the boroughs in New York, a big yard may mean over one quarter of an acre, but a big yard to someone else can mean over one acre.

It's not your job as a buyer or seller to  explain these things. Your agent should ask, so that there is no misunderstandings.

Now, as to communication- My clients are very much accustomed to me getting back to them very quickly, and following up with them even if it is just to say, "I don't have any information yet- I just wanted to let  you know that you are in my thoughts", or "I haven't heard back from the sellers (or buyers), and hope to have an answer by 6PM tonight. I will call you either way."

Not everyone will call you to tell you they do not have information or an answer yet. Sorry, but attorney's are especially notorious for this. So are a lot of agents.

Communication goes a long way in keeping a transaction as smooth as possible from start to finish. Not everyone is so diligent in returning calls or emails, and instead of getting frustrated or upset, lay down the parameters when you first meet as to what your expectations are. Also understand that sometimes the agent that your agent is dealing with (and that you or your agent have no control over)  has a slower response time than you would like, or are accustomed to.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.