Agent completed the hard part of the short sale: getting the property listed and aggressive marketing to obtain offers.  Submitted the offer to the homeowner/seller, did your report and included all the information and documents required plus your own twist to the presentation.  Now you fax it in or fed exp it or both... now what do you do?

The worst thing you can do is nothing but sit and wait for the bank to contact you.  here is what I suggest:

YOU HAVE PHONE USE IT!

1.  Call and make sure your request made it to the Short Sale department.  If it is did not - don't be shy... resend it!

2.  Give it about 1 week and then call to check again. 

3.  Once you get confirmation that they have the full packet.  You still do not get to just sit on it.

4.  Time it right and call back to get an update.  Don't be insulted if you do not get to talk to the short negotiator -- just speak with the customer service rep and ask them what is the status.  Ask if the negotiator has been assigned, if yes - get the name and try for email and direct line.  Get as much as you. Ask them to put a note in the file that you called and asked for status and confirmed that all documents were received.

5.  Can you sit now?  Nope, not for long.... call back and get another status and you keep doing this until you either get to talk to the negotiator or get an email or phone number and then follow up direct with that negotiator.

6.  Keep your eye on the trustee sale date ----> don't let it get by you!  Call and ask for a postpond date.  Be sure the customer service rep email the negotiator and ask for this date. It is not the negotiator's job to have your back on the sales date .... and they won't!

7.  Call back to be sure they have a new sale date set.

This is simple communication and basically it is as much as you can do until the bank is ready to talk or email converse with you.  But for the record, you have followed up.

Remember there are numerous pre-foreclosure properties with short sale requests -- so the banks have numerous files to deal with.

Short Sale Communication 101 - Communicate often!