Weʼve all heard about body language. When someoneʼs arms are crossed, they are being impatient, right? Or when someone rolls their eyes upwards during a conversation, theyʼre sceptical.

- Look a person in the eyes when shaking his/her hand. This is one of the fastest ways to establish rapport. (Some agents look down at the hand, perhaps worried theyʼll fumble the handshake. If this is your concern, practice.)

- Maintain eye-to-eye contact during the conversation, especially when the other person is talking. This reinforces that you are interested and listening.

- Smile as often as possible, but never immediately after the other person asks a question. A smile after a question about financing, for example, might be interpreted as condescending.- Keep your feet on the floor, not crossed. Lean slightly forward. This shows that you are there to do business and make things happen. By contrast, sitting back with your legs crossed looks like youʼre settling in for a quiet evening and a movie!- When taking notes, keep your notepad visible, not tilted close to your chest. People sometimes get nervous when an agent is taking notes they canʼt see. Keeping your notepad visible makes them feel more comfortable. (And, they probably wonʼt be able to read what youʼre writing anyway.)