Education
Know what you're walking into
The parts of buying and selling that nobody explains until it's already happening.
REALTOR® or real estate agent?
The words get used as if they mean the same thing. They don’t.
REALTOR®
A real estate professional who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Real estate agent
Licensed to assist buyers and sellers, and typically working under a licensed broker — but does not subscribe to that Code of Ethics.
Vickie and Deborah are both REALTORS®. It is the difference between a licence and an obligation.
The process, start to finish
Click either chart to read it full size.
What you need to purchase and close
- Home inspection
- An assessment of the visible, accessible systems of the home — plumbing, HVAC, roof and electrical.
- Appraisal
- A value set by an appraiser using comparable active and sold homes nearby: square footage, location, year built, bedrooms and baths.
- Homeowner's insurance
- Protects the property when damage occurs — structural integrity and the cost to repair or rebuild after fire, severe weather, theft and similar events.
- Property taxes
- Assessed by the city and county, generally tied to the value of the property.
- Closing agent
- Normally a real estate attorney, handling the documentation and the disbursements between lender, REALTOR®, insurance agent and everyone else involved.
Tips for buyers
- Work with a buyer's agent.
- Keep your credit in good or excellent standing.
- Choose the loan type that suits you — conventional, VA, FHA — and understand the rate.
- Understand the seller's situation: urgent sale, relocation, or no rush at all.
- Pick the right property type — single family, condo, townhome, rural or urban.
- Get a home inspection.
Do not buy big-ticket items before or during house hunting. It can cost you the loan.
Tips for sellers
- Hire a real estate professional to market the home.
- Be clear with yourself about why you're selling.
- Present the home well — curb appeal counts before anyone steps inside.
- Stay flexible in negotiations.
- Stage the home for showings where you can.
- Offer incentives at no cost to the buyer: a home warranty, an inspection, or an appliance.
- Go over a market analysis with your agent so the price is right from day one.
- Consider inspecting the home before you list it.
Is your home sitting on the market?
A listing that isn’t moving usually isn’t a bad house — it’s a house nobody adjusted. The price hasn’t moved, no home warranty is offered, no carpet allowance, no appliance. If that sounds like yours, it’s worth a conversation.
Talk to us about it