Mind Your Manners

How is your real estate etiquette? Good manners are especially important when buying or selling a home. It may be a deciding factor in whether the deal happens at all. Here’s what we mean by minding your manners:

·        Show up and be on time for your showing appointments. Not keeping your appointment is not only unfair to your real estate agent but more importantly, in some markets, time is of the essence. If you miss a showing for a home you’re interested in, you may not even have an opportunity to make an offer. The one day that you did not show up may be the day the seller decides to accept an offer from someone else.

·        Make sure you provide your lender with all the documentation they need in a timely manner. You should have your pre-approval in hand before you even start looking so that you know how much house you can afford and so that you are well prepared to make an offer if you find something you like.

·        Heed your lender’s advice on keeping your finances in order. Usually they will give you a list of dos and don’ts while you are going through the home buying process.

·        If signatures on documents are needed, provide them as quickly as possible.

·        During a showing, if the sellers are present, keep any negative comments or observations to yourself and make sure any conversation with the sellers is very polite and minimal. If you have questions or concerns about the home, take notes and ask your real estate agent to get the information for you later. You want to leave a positive impression on the sellers, especially if you are interested in their house.

There is a saying that goes, “You catch more flies with honey.” In real estate, it’s the same. Your transaction will go much smoother if everyone minds their manners.