Thinking of buying or selling?
We are here to make it a lot easier for you!
Buyer
Purchasing a home may have a lot of steps, but we are here to help. With a group of brilliant agents and amazing Windermere tools at their finger tips we believe you have a true advantage. Here is a look at the process:
Our agents learn all about what you envision your ideal home to be like, and then spend time brainstorming your wants, your must-haves, and your deal breakers.
The next step is for you to connect with a lender. You’ll need to submit an application and gain pre-approval, and at this point, your agent can provide you with their lender recommendations. Of course, you’re also free to shop around on your own, but it's recommended you work with a lender who was strongly referred to you by someone you trust. Ensuring that you have an experienced, reliable advocate on your side will help guarantee that you’ll have your loan approval and necessary documents in place to close on time.
Based on the information gathered during the intake meeting, a selection of homes will put together to tour with your agent. Before the tour, you will get to preview all active properties that fall within your parameters, and from there the tour will be laid out to include homes that you consider “winners,” homes that could be “maybes,” and a few homes that you may not have considered but could still have potential.
The tour might run anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on your schedule, and at the end of the process there will be much more of a thorough understanding of what the right home will be for you. Sometimes people find their dream home during this step, but if not, listings will continue to be sent to you with potential until the perfect place has found you!
Once you’ve found “the one,” your agent begins putting together the offer. They will start by discussing the current market and suggest a fair offer to make. They’ll walk you through the contract, including going over various contingencies and addendum to ensure that you understand the contract and your obligations as a buyer.
Finally, after submitting our offer (and after possibly negotiating counteroffers), our goal is to get to mutual acceptance. Once you and the sellers come to an agreement, we will provide you with a timeline of dates that include each action item you need to complete prior to contingency expiration. If this sounds stressful, don’t worry—your agent is there to help you at each step along the way!
A home inspection is going to be your version of an x-ray of the property. You will hire a professional home inspector (your agent can also can help provide a few referrals) who will walk through each part of the home, from the basement and crawl spaces to the attic and roof, inspecting each detail and searching for anything that might be cause for concern. Afterward, the inspector provides you with a detailed report of any issues they found, and from here, you and your agent will discuss what you would like addressed and go back to the seller and negotiate repairs or necessary funds to manage the repairs.
After mutual acceptance, you and your agent will work in conjunction with a third party escrow officer to ensure the transaction is managed to meet all deadlines. After inspection, your next step will be to focus on the various conditions your lender may have given you to complete your application for final funding. Once all loan documents have been sent to escrow, you will meet with the escrow officer about 2-3 days before closing day to sign the documents. On closing day, once the documents have recorded, you get your new keys!
Your agent will be ready to help you plan a successful transition. They have several resources to assist you with the entire moving process, from packing up your previous home to moving it all into your new home. They also have recommendations for services you might need in setting up your new home, whether you plan to paint, install new flooring, or tackle a bathroom remodel. Your agent is there for all of your real estate needs, no matter what part of the process you’re in.
Seller
There can be a lot involved in selling a home. Communication is key and we do our best to make sure that all the bases covered. We want you to feel comfortable and informed through the process. Here is an overview:
Your meeting will begin with questions about your intentions and what comes next. Through a lot of listening your agent will match your goals, fears and expectations and develop a plan to help meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Whether you’re selling your first or fourth home, most sellers have the same fears and concerns. It’s crucial to address any questions you might have at this point, including:
- Will your home sell when you need it to?
- What is a competitive price for your home today in its current condition?
- Should you make any improvements to your home to maximize return on investment (ROI)?
After the consultation, your agent will put together a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which analyzes your neighborhood's housing data along with the condition of your home to create a value range and an expected sale price.
Within the market analysis, your agent will provide you with recommendations for repairs you may want to make to leverage your ROI. This may be as simple as fresh paint on the walls, or it could include upgrades like replacing countertops. Your agent will give you direct input to help you attract the right buyer, and will be there to support you throughout the process. Including anything from providing our top vendor references to assisting with project management and everything in between.
During this phase, your agent will also delve into marketing your home, which includes:
- Reviewing staging options and suggestions for your home
- Photographing your home and property
- Creating full-color a flyer featuring your property’s highlights
- Online marketing of your listing throughout all relevant real estate websites including NWMLS, Zillow, Trulia, Realtor, and many other satellite sites
- Promoting the listing throughout our social media networks
- Email campaigns sent out to other agents in the Spokane Association of Realtors
Hooray—you received an offer! Now what? At this point, your agent will help you measure the pros and cons of an offer including which parts are solid, and which components are unreliable. They will also highlight any potential red flags. Your agent will then guide you through the offer(s) to negotiate secure favorable terms, and ensure the new buyer has the ability to close on-time. When it starts to feel like that might not be possible your agent will do everything they can to them get them back on-track.
Along with the guidance of a third-party escrow officer, your transaction will be managed by your agent and the office team to ensure a smooth closing. Once completed, your move will most likely require resources such as movers and relocation assistance. In the Windermere culture us and our agents are committed to continuing the relationship beyond the sale with our vast community of vendors, and are your go-to source for anything household related as you transition and begin your new journey!
What our clients are saying...
This Windermere office has a great staff, and a dedication to ensuring customer needs are addressed.
I had a very positive experience with Windermere City Group. I felt like everyone there was working to make my experience the best it could be. Definitely would use them again. 5 star for sure!
I would highly recommend working with any realtor at Windermere City Group. Really good people.
