How to Work with a Real Estate Agent

While all types of agency require a certain standard of conduct on the part of the agent, the customer or client has responsibilities too.

If you are selling, create an information sheet that lists your home's features and best qualities, especially those you know best that others might overlook. Give this to your real estate agent, who may be able to use the information in marketing materials or when talking with potential buyers.

When selling, talk to the real estate agent about cosmetic improvements. Your home may need fresh paint or new carpet. (Make sure you choose neutral colors.)

If selling, keep it clean. Eliminate cobwebs and dust. Keep the bathroom counters and mirrors wiped down. Vacuum and sweep daily during the selling process.

If buying, be clear about what you want. Make a list of your priorities numbered 1 through 10 and give it to your real estate agent. You can always revise the list, but give your real estate agent something concrete so that he or she can research available listings more efficiently.

A seller has an obligation to level with his agent. If there is a serious flaw in the property, the seller must disclose it to the agent. The agent may have a way of actually fixing the problem or of marketing the property to minimize the negative impact. Some "flaws" such as a murder or suicide in the house (usually called stigmas) may not need to be disclosed to buyers, but if the flaw is one that must be revealed, the agent can end up in serious legal difficulties if he is suspected of withholding negative information.

The seller must also level about relevant financial or personal information. If a seller is facing bankruptcy or foreclosure of the property, the agent must be told. In either case the seller could lose either control or actual ownership of the property, delaying or negating a pending sale, leaving the agent holding the bag for marketing expenses, and possibly making him vulnerable to legal action by a disgruntled buyer. If a sale is being forced by divorce or illness, the agent should be told if there is any chance those conditions may impact on showing the property or completing the sale in a timely manner.

A buyer also owes his agent loyalty. There is no reason to work with more than one agent in a market area and it is very unfair to every agent involved. In fact, with buyer agency, the buyer is usually legally obligated to work only with his agent and if he buys a property directly from a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) or through another agent he may actually be forced to pay his agent a commission.