Buying or Selling a home can feel a lot like a roller coaster ride. There are exhilarating moments, but sometimes it can feel scary and intimidating. Selecting the right real estate agent can make a huge impact on how you experience your real estate purchase or sale.
Based on my experience as a realtor and as someone who has purchased and sold homes of my own, I think the key ingredient to a low stress transaction is communication. Communication is an art, we all have different styles that we prefer to give and receive information.
I recently took a communication quiz, “What is your communication style”. In this quiz there were four different styles and you could have some overlap. This helped me realize that we innately have different ways of communicating, but we can adapt to one another's needs. I wasn’t surprised to see my husband and I scored much differently on the quiz. While we don’t communicate perfectly, we have learned to adapt to each other's needs.
Communication between you and your realtor is essential. Your realtor needs to:
Set realistic expectations.
Educate you.
Actively listen to your needs.
Setting realistic expectations is paramount. There may be some challenges or hiccups that come up along the way. It is important for agents to explain this to their client ahead of time to avoid surprises. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control, such as financing issues or when something shows up unexpectedly in a home inspection. Having a clear multi-step process in place can help with explaining the process and setting expectations.
Secondly, your realtor needs to educate you. I like to think of realtors and their clients as teammates. Realtors can show you what has recently sold in their area and by looking at local market trends. There is a lot of information on the internet, but realtors can dig deeper and provide more accurate information. With this understanding of the market, you should feel more comfortable and confident about the big decisions you are making.
Finally, realtors need to really listen to your needs. Buying or selling a home is a really huge deal and should not be taken lightly. Every client has unique needs and wants. With a deep understanding of your preferences, your agent may be able to think outside of the box and find you just what you are looking for.
It is essential that real estate agents and clients have effective communication. Again, there are different styles of communication and it isn't one size fits all. With effective communication your next home sale or purchase will be a pleasant one.
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