We all know short sales are difficult. You have to wait a long time for approval and it’s never a guarantee that the bank will approve it? It often feels out of our hands, but there are things you can do.

1. Make sure the listing agent sends in 1 complete short sale package to the lender. This often includes the listing contract, contract to buy and sell real estate, the short sale addendum, seller’s financials including bank statements and pay stubs, and a hardship letter explaining the reason to short sale.

2. Make sure the listing agent contacts the lender frequently for an update. Ideally, the agent should have one direct contact with a negotiator at the bank. If you don’t think the agent is qualified to handle the negotiation, you can pay for a professional short sale negotiator to talk with the lender.

3. Deals can go smoother if the buyer gets his/her loan from the same bank that is taking the short sale on the listing side. It is easier to communicate with the different departments and it is in the lender’s best interest to approve the short sale if they will be earning the interest on the next buyer. I have witnessed this working first hand.

4. Everyone involved needs to have patience and be willing to work with each other and communicate with the lender. We can be assertive without having to be rude about it.