What a wonderful client.....

Really, I have had good clients in the past and I am sure that I will have even more in the future.  I have had some less than good clients, too but not as many.  Then I have had some really, really GREAT clients but, not as many as the good.

So what make a good client? 

1. They take the advice of their REALTOR and make their decisions based on fact not hype.  The information about purchase price or the listing price of a home will be based on the information provided in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and will be on similar properties sold in your neighborhood or within a half mile radius of the home in question.
2. They respond in a timely manor to requests by their lender, title company REALTOR, Insurance Company and all other related companies involved in the sale or purchase of a home.  Responding in a timely fashion to a request for information is critical to a successful closing, waiting to the last minute will only slow down the process and could possibly stop it from happening on the day stated in the contract.  Remember the contract will have some wording in it that says "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE".  A failure to do this could and will place you the buyer or seller in breach of the contract and we do not want that to happen do we.
3. They are prompt for appointments.  When you are prompt it shows that you have a real interest in the purchase or sale of your home.  When you are late it throws scheduled showing off and gives the impression that you do not really care.
4. They ask questions when in doubt about those things that involve the sale or purchase of a property.  Don't just sign on the dotted line if you are in doubt about some, know what you are signing before you sign anything. Set your mind at ease before you sign, remember this is a very large purchase that you are making and it could have a negative impact on your future. So if you have questions ASK them, don't be shy about it either.

So what makes a not so good client?

1. They won't take the advice of their REALTOR.  They make their decisions based on emotion.  Your REALTOR is there to help you make a sound decision and they know that you have lived in your home for a long time and that there are a lot of memories there.  They also know that it will be hard to leave all of your friends.  They know that it will be difficult for your children to leave the schools that they are in and the friendships they have made thru the years.
2. They do not respond in a timely manner to request that are made by all partied involved in the sale or purchase of a property.  As I said in #2 above "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE".
3. They are late for appointments.  Just the opposite of someone that is truly interested in the process and motivated to sale or purchase a home.
4. They do not ask questions about anything.  They sign documents, go through inspections, purchase insurance for their new home or any of the myriad of things involved in the sale and or purchase of a home and do not ask questions.  Then when something comes up after the sale there are questions galore.  If you have questions ask them at the time they come up DON'T WAIT!

So what makes a REALLY GREAT client?

Very simply stated they are all of the things that a good client is plus:

1. They have answers to questions before they are asked, they are prepared.
2. When ask for something they may not have, which is a rarity, they have the answer before the end of business that day or at least an update to keep people in the loop.
3. They do not know what the meaning of late to anything is, unless there is an unexpected emergency.  They anticipate problems and factor them out when planning appointments.
4. They not only ask questions they take notes in the process.  They are prepared at all times.