One of the most common problems between brokers and prospective home
buyer’s is a lack of communication, which often leads to frustration. On the broker’s side, he/she feels that the client is too picky and will never find the perfect property; while the home buyer gets annoyed with the properties that the broker is sending and begins to feel that they are incompetent. Believe me, a broker only want to serve his/her clients in the most efficient way possible, conserving time for both himself and his clients. This is why withholding information, such as maximum price or preferences, from your agent will only make delay the process and waste time on both sides. If you feel that your broker is only presenting homes at the top of your price range, then that is not someone you should work with. But, keep in mind, your taste may be expensive and that only the homes that meet those tastes are at the top of your price range. Be sure you to justify your reasoning before you just to such conclusions. Apart from the few unethical brokers, we truly want to serve our clients at our highest level possible.
In order to be efficient with time, I find that a home buyer’s wish-list is an effective way to communicate efficiently. My home buyer’s wish-list, is a two page form containing questions and possible preferences a client may have. With this list, I am not only able to save my time but I am able to serve my clients more efficiently by being on the same page. Also, it is not uncommon to work with clients for over a year, making it difficult to remember the specifics. I can constantly reference the list when searching the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for possible homes. It is important to be as honest as possible when filling out the wish-list. After all, if you can’t trust your broker with matching your preferences, how can you trust him/her to negotiate on your behalf? Purchasing a home is a huge decision, and you must be comfortable with your broker.
Feel free to use the attached wish-list. To find more helpful real estate tools, please visit Helpful Real Estate Tools.
Robert Larsen
Coast Sotheby’s International Realty
Robert.Larsen@CoastSIR.com
