Tenants tips

You just found out that the owner of the home that you're renting has decided to put it on the market.  You're going to have to deal with the real estate agent listing the home, showings, inspections and so on.  Hopefully the real estate agent has gotten in touch with you to set up a meeting before the listing begins.  If they haven't and a sign just showed up on the lawn or you found out from your friends then things are not off to a good start.  

Here's a list of tips for tenants that should make the process smoother and more comfortable for everyone.

1.  Don't panic.  Just because the property you live in is for sale does not mean that it will actually be sold.  This is particularly true in the current marketplace.  You don't want to do anything stupid to jeopardize your relationship with your landlord.

2.  Meet with the listing agent.  Hopefully she's not a jackass.  Outline any concerns you may have up front concerning showing times and or days.  If you have a schedule conflict like a napping baby or a recurrent Saturday event at your home make it clear to the agent that you would like there to be no showings at that time.  Work out a schedule that you can live with.  Create expectations with regards to showings - notice requirements, length of showing windows etc.

3.  Document everything.  Send an email back to the Realtor with your understanding of the meeting.  Write down all showing notifications - get a separate calender just for showings.

4.  Hold the Realtor to their agreement and do not allow yourself to be bullied.  Most listing agents do their job well, but there is a breed that has no regard for tenants and will try to schedule appointments with no notice or poor notice, sometimes even confirming other Realtors to show a property without confirming with the tenant.  They assume a tenant being home can be overcome by the showing agent.  This is particularly a problem for you if you've continually allowed it to happen.  If it is a problem contact your landlord, calmly.  Ask that they tell their Realtor to abide by the showing agreement or you will become less cooperative.  Make it clear that you are not being obstructionist, but the Realtor is being unreasonable.  Again - document everything.  If the landlord refuses to help contact the Realtors managing broker.  Then contact the real estate board.   Then contact the real estate council, (in BC anyways, though I believe similar bodies exist in most jurisdictions).  Also file a complaint with the Residential Tenancy Office.  Only in the most extreme cases would you have to go through these steps.

5.  By the same token, if you have a good working relationship with the Realtor and are being treated with respect, you could be flexible with the listing agent on showings if they are rare and seem to be for a good reason.  

6.  Take a moment to consider your own living situation.  Does paying $1200/month for a basement suite really make sense over the long term.  Is it time to have a look at buying?  Consider your own options.  It may not be the right time, but it is probably worth looking into.  Call me to talk about it :)

7.  Don't do anything stupid.  If you are mad about the home being listed, or obsessed with your privacy and can't stand the showings, tough.  Be as reasonable as possible and it should go well.  "Forgetting" showings and being asleep on the couch, or making entrance impossible or undesirable will only lead to you losing your place to live anyways.  Obstructing reasonable efforts to sell a property is grounds for termination of tenancy.  It will be harder to get a new place if you got kicked out of your old place - or made life miserable for the owner so a referral is out of the question.

The common thread throughout here is to be reasonable, and to expect reasonableness from the people trying to sell the property.  A good listing agent knows how to be reasonable - let's hope you get one of them!