Your Real Estate Professional Behind the Scenes

1) Listens to Your Needs and Finds Opportunities to Match

• Determines whether you need to sign any contracts or agreements in order to work together
• Starts a file that details your requests, preferences, concerns, and expectations

2) Gives You an Overview of the Market

• Offers insight into the real estate market, both locally and nationally
• Informs you of the sold price for similar properties
• Helps you identify the reasons for home price variations—e.g. “homes located within a specific school district or proximity to public transit go for a premium over others”
• Shares details about neighborhood amenities, traffic statistics, and more (in compliance with the Fair Housing Act, and other federal and state laws)
• Sends updates based off housing, finance, and economic reports, and much more

3) Searches Far and Wide for the Right Property

• Finds property listings that match your needs by scanning the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), driving through neighborhoods, looking at classifieds, soliciting home owners, and contacting other real estate professionals
• Sets up appointments, researches listings, confirms appointments, follows up on opportunities, obtains lockbox codes
• Drives you to appointments and informs you of opportunities
• Guides you towards experts who can help identify property land use codes, deed restrictions and zoning requirements
• Compiles research on listings
• Maintains a record of your meetings and listing reviews

4) Helps You Place a Competitive Offer

• Informs you of the sold price for similar opportunities
• Recommends experts to help you ensure inspections and disclosures are in order
• Assists you with determining the property’s fixtures versus real property (i.e. what stays with the property and what goes with the seller)
• Guides you in negotiating a competitive offer and determining whether a counter-offer is warranted
• Assists you with negotiating the terms of the contract
• Guides you to experts for help with reviewing the terms of any neighborhood or home owner’s association covenants

5) Makes Sure the Contracts Are in Order

• Verifies tax, utility, and home owner’s assessments
• Helps obtain property inspection reports and necessary disclosures
• Ensures that the seller completes property disclosure documentation
• Assists you in pursuing title clearance and ensuring the property is in good standing
• Works with attorneys to ensure contracts follow the signing and approval process

6) Connects You to the Resources You Need to Settle in to Your New Home

• Helps you identify and connect to neighborhood amenities
• Reminds you to pull together paperwork, warranties, and set up utilities bills
• Reminds you to keep closing documents in a safe off-site location

Source: Realtor.org