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Step 1
Clarify your agent's selling plan before signing the contract. When you find the agent you want to hire, make sure you know his plan for selling your home: an Internet listing with pictures, open houses, or other strategies. You need to have this information before you sign so that you won't be frustrated or disappointed down the road.
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Step 2
Reach a selling price together. If you're a home seller, don't assume that you know how much your house is worth on the market and insist on listing at that price. Your real estate agent is the expert and should have prepared a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for you that shows you how much neighboring homes are listed for or have recently sold for.
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Step 3
Establish lines of communication. Another way of sidestepping seller frustration is to figure out how you can reach your real estate agent and when. Ask if she's available by cell phone after hours and how often she plans on contacting you to give you updates and feedback on showings. This is important information to have up front so that you're not upset once showings start if your agent isn't calling you as much as you think she should.
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Step 4
Create a list of unique features. By listing all of your home's features that may not be noticeable on the first walk-through, you give your real estate agent one more useful tool in selling your home. Present the list to him and he can point out these features over the phone to the showing agent before she takes her clients to your house. Then she, in turn, can point them out to your prospective buyers.
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Step 5
Write up your wish list. When looking for your dream home, it's helpful to your real estate agent if you list your top 10 must-haves, with the most important at number one. This list makes a handy reference when your agent researches listings. As you see more homes, the list may change, but it's a good starting point for you and your agent.
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Step 6
Make your agent's job as easy as possible. You need to keep your home show-ready. This means vacuuming and sweeping every day as well as keeping the bathrooms and kitchens immaculate. Dust your furniture regularly and keep your home odor-free. Make any necessary cosmetic changes, such as neutral paint and carpeting. If you want your real estate agent to do his job, you have to do yours. Even the best agent can't sell a home that looks neglected.
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Step 7
Listen to each other. If your home isn't selling, ask your real estate agent what you could be doing differently, and then actually listen to her. You hired her for a reason, and if you don't listen to what she's telling you, be prepared to have your house sit on the market. Likewise, she should be listening to you. If you're buying a home, make sure she's showing you houses that meet your criteria. If she's consistently showing you houses that are too pricey for your budget or don't have enough bathrooms, you need to have a chat with her.
