How to Be the Best Client and Get the Best Deal

It’s true in the workplace, in relationships, and in every other situation where two or more people connect for a common goal. Cooperation is the key to great results! It makes everyone a winner! Cooperation definitely is huge in real estate agent-client relations. When both parties work in tandem, they’re headed for the very best home at the very best price in the shortest period of time.

Cooperation begins with trusting your agent. This is the most important ingredient. You should feel 100% confident that your agent is making a total commitment – both to your goals and to his or her fiduciary duty to you. Remember, the professional you choose has much more real estate knowledge than you do. Acknowledge this, and you’ll empower your agent to do the very best job.

Ready to learn the secrets of successful cooperation? Great! Here are seven sure-fire ways to get in sync with your agent. Follow these proven guidelines, and you’ll dramatically boost your chances of getting a super deal on Laguna Beach Real Estate.

1. Be open to all possibilities. Free your agent to work outside the box. For instance, if you can’t find the Laguna Beach home of your dreams, invite your agent to show you a comparable Newport Beach property. Or perhaps you can’t find the ideal Laguna Beach cottage in your price range. Simply give your agent free rein to look for a suitable Newport Beach home or a piece of real estate in Laguna Niguel.
2. Be patient and work hard.  You’re agent isn’t the only person who should be out there pounding the pavement. Along with the large sum of money you’ve put up, you’ll need to invest some of your own energy for the cause. Be prepared to spend some time doing things like joining your agent for home searches. In gratitude, he or she likely will show you the cream of the crop. Remember, the marketplace is oversaturated. So your chosen professional should find the right property within 30 to 60 days. Obviously, the lower-priced homes will be more plentiful. Specific types of properties such as a single story house, contemporary Laguna Niguel home, or Laguna Beach property with a 10, 000 lot might take a bit longer. But it will be worth the wait.
3. Don’t judge a book by its cover. No matter how monstrous a prospective home looks on the outside, always, always step inside. Believe it or not, 50% of the people who venture indoors actually buy the house that had made them dash for the Alka-Seltzer only seconds before! That’s because things indoors often are a lot rosier than an unsightly package suggests. And besides, a problem exterior is not nearly the headache a problem interior is. After all, it’s much less expensive to replace hideous shrubs with beautiful flowers, than it is to knock down a set of horrifying walls.

The same holds true in reverse. Sometimes buyers fall in love with a home that qualifies for the cover of ‘House Beautiful’ on the outside. But when they step inside -- nightmare! Bottom line – It’s what’s on the inside that counts. So check it out!

4. Help your agent unleash maximum negotiating power. An experienced real estate pro has a complete arsenal of secret strategies that can strengthen your position. For instance, advantage to buyer when an agent presents an offer to seller and seller’s agent at one meeting, typically at the owner’s house. To enhance the offer, your rep can give the seller a personal letter about yourself, family photos, an endearing picture of you with your dog, etc. Sharing these slices of life are enormously humanizing gestures in the eyes of the seller. This image-building can tip the scales well into the buyer’s favor. So when your real estate pro requests a bit of personal info, provide it. You’ll be surprised at what a big difference a little photo can make.
5. Just do it! If an agent says write an offer, WRITE IT! It doesn’t cost a thing! Split-second timing is crucial, especially with a popular Laguna Beach home on the line. You’ve got to jump right into the ballgame, or you risk losing a golden opportunity.
6. Work with your lender. This means provide the bank with all paperwork, signed forms, and anything else needed to secure loan approval. Do your duty with the lender, and your agent will have one less matter to worry about. Ultimately, he or she will have more time to ensure a delightfully smooth buying or selling process. 
7. Get it while you can. If your agent finds a Laguna Beach home that has four out five of your qualifications (excluding price), you’ve got a winner! Run like the wind and snap up that property before a competing buyer discovers your winner and generously nudges up its price.

If you’d like to learn more about client-agent relations or about getting the ultimate deal on a Laguna Beach home, we’re ready to assist you. As the area’s premier coastal property experts, Hillary Caston & Associates can help you discover the abundant opportunities here in the Laguna Beach Real Estate market. Connect with our team now at 949.922.8490 or hillary@thecoastalpropertyexperts.com.