In a small market it is easy to have relationships with most of the agents. Even if I don't know them, they seem to know me sicnce I have been around so long. I write clean and easy to understand offers. No trickery from me.

I really like clean offers.  No mucking it up seems to always make for a smoother transaction. 

Although this has noting to do with the question, I do engage agents in a positive method to build good working relationships.

Play chess, not tackle football.

1. Remain polite & professional.

2. All my buyers submit a photo with a letter of introduction and why they love this house.

3. Good Communication throughout the process. Starting with an offer summary-make it easy for them to accept your offer. (As a listing agent, the offer is important to me, but so is the borrower/buyer and their agent.

4. Offer accepted: send a thank you note, set the tone that this will be a smooth process.

5. Respond, don't react...problems or curve balls are inevitable; cooler heads stay creative and work the problems. I've come up with some of my best practices out of transaction issues.

6. Agents I've enjoyed working with get invited to coffee or lunch by me after close. I like to encourage professional behavior and build relationships.

Most important is a clean offer, compolete with pre approval letter. 

Jeff - I just try to be professional and keep in touch to see how things are going. I do not do anything to foster a relationship as there are so many agents in my area, every transaction I have I work with a new/different agent.

There are certainly some agents I wish I could do more business with.

I'm easy to get along with. Just call me sometime and you will see that. I will work well with any agent. 

Honestly Jeff, I work hard time after time to make sure I always do my part on whatever end of the deal I am on and I have a reputation for being easy to work with and a super high percent of my deals close once pending.  I also always thank the other agents post transaction for their efforts (in writing) and I think those things make my offers stand out.

Good communications and follow-ups.

It's business.  We don't foster anything.  Here's the offer, counter, accept or pass.

Remember the Golden rule - treat people the way you want to be treated, be honest and send me a clean offer - no tricks or double talk.

Jeff,

Given that most successful real estate agents make up a small sandbox, it is important to be nice to everyone in the sandbox and make friends.  On this recent work trip, we heard two different stories about a successful competing agent, one loved working with her because she was fast, nice and ethical, the other accused the person of wanting to double end deals...Guess who this agent is nice to?  A

Jeff Dowler CRS - great question.

I do not want to sound 'desparate' for my buyers, however, I do send a Thank You email at least and perhaps a personal note if time permits.

Before submitting the offer, I'd like to know the 'sensitive' points that would help seller consider my buyer's offer. Very important to understand what sellers want in this market!

a good listing agent will notice the detail within the package submitted....make their job easy with as clean a deal as possible, and that offer will stand out!!

Hi Jeff -

A clean and complete offer with back-up documentation(mortgage pre-approval, proof of funds, acknowledgment of seller requests and signed disclosures if made available prior to offer submission). 

An offer synopsis highlighting the terms they can use as reference when meeting with the seller(s).

Seller choice of service providers(escrow, title) if there is no preference by buyer(s).

Present the offer reflecting what sellers value most, agility and assurance.

I always stay in touch with the agent and provide information in a timely manner.

Treat them with respect and keep emotions out of the transaction.  To make my offer stand out I try for a WIN win, with the WIN on my buyers side.