July 3, 2007

Today’s Real Estate

How to be a perfect client

By Donna Nardi
Special to the Times

Most real estate articles cover the subject of how the Realtor should behave towards the client. While very important, it takes everyone involved in the transaction of the purchase or sale of a home to ensure a smooth and successful transaction, all the way to the close of escrow.

When an agent and client enter into a contract, the first order of business is to sign the “Agency Disclosure.” This document explains the fiduciary duty of an agent to a client to act with honesty, utmost care, loyalty, diligence and integrity. A client must have a clear understanding of what an agent owes them throughout the entire transaction. But, in order to make the transaction better, both agent and client must work together in harmony. So, let’s look at the best ways to accomplish this often tricky feat.

We live in a society that often looks out for ourselves first because “no one else will.” We understand that in order to help others, we must be healthy ourselves. While true, if we are continually looking out for only our best interests, we are often cheating ourselves. By shortchanging the other guy, we frequently hamper their best efforts in our behalf.
In any functioning society, there are many professionals we daily come in contact with that contribute to all our lives running more smoothly. These can be grocery clerks, gas station attendants, school principals, politicians, policemen and on and on. Our society is designed to be interdependent upon each other, which makes our world go ‘round. We don’t go to the grocery clerk when we need an attorney, do we? Most of us have gone into the profession that interests us, and have studied and worked hard to obtain the diploma and work experience necessary to be a benefit to society.

Once we go to the selected professional, we must cooperate with them in order to give them the means to meet our expectations. If we need to see a medical doctor, we must cooperate to the fullest to get the correct diagnosis. This can often entail x-rays, blood tests and communicating symptoms. If you run from doctor to doctor unnecessarily, you could be adding to the problem, instead of helping. Cooperating and communicating are ultra important!

So what are some ways to be the perfect client?

Choose carefully – Not all Realtors are created equally. Ask your friends and family if they were happy with theirs, ask for referrals and do your homework.

Meet with them - Nothing replaces a face-to-face meeting to get acquainted, and be sure your agent/client relationship is a match.

Make a plan - Be certain to share your needs – current and future. This allows your agent to look beyond today, and act accordingly.

Be honest - Most anything can be dealt with if both parties are honest with each other.

Keep communication open - If you have new (or old) issues or concerns, be sure to share them with your realtor. They cannot act unless they know.

Submit documentation – Turn in required documentation in a timely manner.

Stay focused – Don’t run from person to person looking for their input. Be careful of what you ask of whom. Too many fingers in the pie add unnecessary confusion.

Work with your lender - It’s critical to work closely with your lender. This can either delay the close of escrow, or help it along to a smooth close.

Loyalty - Last, but certainly not lease, is loyalty. Your agent must be loyal to you. By the same token, the client must be loyal to the agent. If loyalty is not mutual, there’s a risk of causing unnecessary kinks in the transaction. And, if your agent is assured of mutual trust, he/she can focus on the important aspects of the transaction.

So, it is apparent when we work together toward the same goal, we create a recipe for success. By having a clear understanding of how best to cooperate during one of the most important and highest dollar transactions of your life, you are actually creating a better future for yourself.

Donna Nardi is a Realtor, Accredited Staging Professional, and Senior Real Estate Specialist with Prudential California Realty in Willow Glen. You may reach her at (408) 918-4410, or donna.nardi@prurealty.com, or www.HappyWayHome.com.