Entering into a working relationship with a real estate professional should be seen as a strategic partnership. As most partnerships go, there is give and take, back and forth, as both parties involved play specific roles. Below are ten adjectives and their definitions of qualities that describe successful real estate clients.

Real Estate Clients Are…

• Informed: (adj.) having or prepared with information or knowledge; apprised                                                                                                       By getting and staying informed about current market trends, your own financial situation, and what level of expectations can be reasonably met,         you and your agent will synchronize easily. Information and knowledge are some of the greatest forms of power when it comes to buying or selling a     home.  Your agent can also be key in providing information.

• open-minded: (adj.) showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments; impartial                                                                                  Maybe you have come into this home buying or selling transaction with one set of ideals based on your own experience. Don’t be afraid to entertain new ways of thinking or suggestions from your agent.

• Responsive: (adj.) responding readily and sympathetically to appeals  or influences                                                                                        When presented with changing or new information from your real estate agent, do be responsive to them. Real estate dealings can be very time-sensitive. While it is prudent to think through your actions responsibly, often it pays to act quickly.  There is a saying in this heavily favored Seller's Market, "If you sleep on it, you may not sleep in it."

• Communicative: (adj.) inclined to communicate; to impart knowledge of; make known                                                                            Whether it is returning emails, text messages, or phone calls promptly or simply voicing your needs, wants, and concerns to your agent, communication is key. Also, by streamlining your communication via email or text, you have a written record or digital paper trail to help you track down information if and when you need it.

• Honest: (adj.) honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair                                                                                                One of the greatest gifts a real estate client can give to an agent is complete honesty. Whether it is an honest appraisal of a financial position, honest feedback on what kind of home you are looking for, or honesty about your intentions, being upfront and having integrity will allow for a smooth transactional process for all involved.

• Patient: (adj.) quietly, steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness                                                                                  Just as important as it is to be quick to respond, it is also vital to be able to play the long game and wait patiently. Sometimes it is waiting to find the right property for your family and other times it might just be waiting for a response from another real estate agent who is working on the other side of the details of your sale or purchase. Remember: good things come to those who wait.

• Organized: (adj.) having a formal structure, especially to coordinate activities                                                                                                  Have you ever considered the role being an organized client could play when it comes to buying or selling a home? Having your personal documents in order, your communication practices streamlined, or having a system in place to help you in the sale of your home or home purchase will not only help you stay mentally focused throughout the process, but it may also allow your real estate professional to have an inside advantage when it’s time to transact.

• Flexible: (adj.) willing or disposed to yield; pliable                                                                                                                                                                  Since buying or selling your home may be possibly one of the largest financial transactions you will ever make, it is easy to hold fast to your own wants and expectations for the process tightly and rigidly. Most military families know the power of being flexible when it comes to details changing and situations not always going exactly according to plan. That same flexibility with your real estate dealings will help smooth things out when there’s that one house that got away or closing dates that get shifted at the last minute. Semper Gumby! (Always flexible!)

• Prepared: (adj.) properly expectant, organized, or equipped; ready                                                                                                                        Along with flexibility, successful real estate client should always be prepared for anything! Being prepared and having your own “house in order” is wise but also being prepared for ever-evolving changes keeps your stress level down. Find the perfect house? Have a backup favorite in mind. Think you’ll be bringing a specific dollar amount to the closing table? Have a cushion saved—just in case.

• Optimistic: (adj.) disposed to take a favorable view; expecting a good outcome                                                                                              Finally, one of the most fundamental qualities a real estate client can bring to the partnership is one of optimism. Whether you are purchasing a home or selling one, entering into a relationship with a real estate professional is a long-term relationship. They are literally helping you to buy or sell your dreams and the kind of life you want to embody those dreams and life inside your home. Keep the long view. Keep the faith. Keep hopeful that good outcomes are on the horizon.