The relationship between you and your real estate agent should always be honest and productive, which is why having an open line of communication is critical to ensuring a win-win partnership!

Once you’ve discussed and agreed on your agency relationship, it’s time to nail down some effective communication strategies. Communication is a two-way street, so both parties need to be open and honest from day one.

Start by setting clear communication preferences. For example, decide whether you prefer to be contacted via text, email or phone and let your agent know if there are specific times you’d rather not be contacted.

Also, be clear on which features are essential for your new home. Ranking your priorities will help your agent conduct a much more targeted search that will produce more relevant results.

That said, it’s important to always keep an open mind as it can be a good idea to “look outside the box” and consider homes that don’t always entirely match your criteria.

If you’re selling your home, make sure you point out any aspects of your home that could either help or hinder the sale. Agents can offer great advice on staging so show them everything no matter how insignificant.

For instance, that tiny crawl space that you weren’t even thinking of mentioning which is packed full of storage could be marketed as a unique selling feature that buyers could fall in love with!

Finally, let your agent know if your needs change and don’t ever hesitate to ask questions. If for whatever reason you’re not completely satisfied with the way things are going, be completely honest so you can resolve the problem straight away before any hasty decisions are made.

The key to any successful relationship is communication, and the partnership between you and your agent is one that will hopefully last a lifetime, so it’s important to get it right.