You have signed on with an agent (either for listing your home OR helping you find a home in your new location) and all of a sudden you find out your agent is leaving town.

Perhaps you are asking yourself "What do I do?"

Well, as you might expect I have a few thoughts on this. Given my own obsessiveness (and the fact that I am not particularly good about taking time for myself and avoiding the phone or email), maybe I am not the best one to give advice. But having been through the seller and buyer side as few times before becoming an agent, and also how I handle my own business, I wanted to share some thoughts.

While this may be a little late if you are already hooked up with someone, I recommend finding out how your agent will handle time off, vacations, etc. It is not reasonable to expect that your agent will be available 24/7 - are YOU? But there should be some allowances for how to handle those times when you need help and your agent is on a well-deserved vacation or needs to handle a family emergency, whether it is a colleague or their broker. They should have some sort of coverage or contingency plan, and you need to know who that will be, how to get in touch with them, etc.

I would strongly encourage you to bring up the subject if they do not. Believe it or not, I know folks who have been working with an agent who leaves town and they have no idea where the agent is, when they will return, or how to deal with things until their agent is back. I have had buyers call me for help because THEIR agent is out of town. Hmmm, whose client ARE you? Do they not respect you enough to make sure you have help finding a home while they are gone, particularly if timing is an issue such as a relocation, or handling your listing in their absence?

Setting expectations is important for both parties. You need to know what to expect in terms of their availability, but they do as well. If you decide to leave the area your agent needs to know so they can reach you if needed. What if you get an offer on your home? Or if the offer you submitted gets countered, or accepted?

Finding out what more of communication is best is a good idea. Will they be able to access email and will they? Is there a phone number that you can use if their cell does not work? And if their coverage will be taking over in their absence you need to have their contact information, and they need yours.

Pretty simple stuff, actually. But surprisingly many are taken aback when confronted with these situations and plans are not in place to deal with absences. Make sure YOU know what to expect and how to get the assistance you need.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler