Practicing good seller's etiquette
Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and naïve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective representatives interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your consultant so that they can address and remedy the problem.

The aggressive buyer’s agent:
Typically all promotional materials state clearly that your consultant is the primary contact for buyers and buyers' agents. However, sometimes a buyer's agent will contact a seller directly. This is not reputable behavior and you should report it to your consultant immediately. Remember, this agent is trying to get the best deal for their buyer…..not for you.

The unscrupulous vendor:
Have you ever started a business or moved into a new house and suddenly found your mailbox full of junk mail? Unfortunately, this also can happen when you put your house on the market. When you sell your home, it necessitates all kinds of new purchasing decisions and less-than-ethical vendors are keenly aware of this. Though MLS organizations enforce rules on how posted information is used, some companies have found ways to cull information from various sources to produce mass mailing lists. If you find yourself regularly emptying your mailbox of junk, let your consultant know. He or she can tap the appropriate sources to prompt an investigation into the matter.

The naïve buyer:
Yard signs, Internet listings and other advertisements can generate a lot of buzz for your home. Some prospective buyers - particularly first-timers - will be so buzzed to see your home that they'll simply drop by. If this happens, no matter how nice these unexpected visitors are, it's best not to humor their enthusiasm by discussing your home or giving an impromptu tour. Instead, politely let them know that your real estate consultant is in charge of scheduling tours and provide them your consultant’s contact information. If you attempt to handle these surprise visits on your own, you might inadvertently disclose information that could hurt you during negotiations down the road.