Are you considering buying or selling an Orange County home? Finding an Orange County realtor who understands your needs and exceeds your expectations is crucial. For me, one of the most important aspects of the realtor/client relationship is communication. Without open lines of communication, it is impossible to get a clear view of what an individual or couple is looking for in their Orange County home.

And thanks to today’s Internet age, the telephone alone is not enough. Your OC realtor must be social media savvy and willing and able to communicate with you via your preferred method of communication, whether it is email or Facebook or Twitter. If you meet with a realtor who doesn’t understand these avenues for communication (and selling!) and isn’t willing to communicate on your level, then maybe it’s a clear sign that you two are not a fit.

I use Social Media (Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, my blog and email newsletters) as not only an opportunity to connect with and interact with my clients and potential clients, but as a means for advertising the sale of my clients homes! If the OC real estate agent that you’re considering working with isn’t familiar with the wide variety of communication methods that are available today, you can probably take that as a sign that they aren’t tech savvy and are not using the many methods available to them for listing homes for sale online.

No matter how tech-savvy your Orange County realtor may be, do not forget the importance of honesty. The home buying and selling process can be a difficult one, with tough decisions about price, location, loans, etc… to make. You want to with a realtor who will honestly and openly communicate with your about what is YOUR best deal, not their best deal.

Sometimes a realtor has to be blunt. Whether it is regarding the TRUE worth of your home, or whether your purple shag carpeting really works, you need to trust that your Orange County real estate agent will give you a honest answer that will help you sell your home at the highest price. You might be forced to hear things about your home you would rather not, but if you want to get the best price you have to be willing to have an open dialogue with your realtor.

Effective communication with an OC realtor can mean the difference between spending or saving thousands of dollars when buying or selling an Orange County home. To speak with an realtor who will communicate with you and listen to your needs, contact the Marquis Team today.

For more Orange County real estate news and happenings, follow Cheryl on Twitter @CherylSellsOC or check her on Facebook at CherylSellsOrangeCounty.

Cheryl Marquis has been an active and successful real estate agent in South Orange County, California for more than 25 years. As a TOP PRODUCER in her company, Cheryl has received the specific accreditation of a Certified Relocation Specialist (CRS) and Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR) and is a member of the Who’s Who of Luxury Real Estate, a select network of the world’s leading luxury home agents. Cheryl is a member of C.A.R. (California Association of Realtors), N.A.R. (National Association of Realtors) and O.C.A.R. (Orange County Association of Realtors). To talk to Cheryl about buying or selling a home in Orange County, call her at 949.683.1501 or visit her online at www.CherylSellsOC.com.