OUR PROCESS
Process is important, it keeps us all on track and helps make sure important details don’t slip through the cracks, but process has to serve people, not the other way around. Because of that, our process varies depending on your needs, goals, and resources of time and energy. Some buyers already live in the South Sound and know it well. Others are coming from out of state and need some help getting oriented. Some sellers will need referrals for electricians, roofers, plumbers, painters, and cleaners. Others can’t wait to take care of all those project themselves. Others will need us to take the reins and not just refer service providers, but schedule, contact, and facilitate the work. Of course, our process depends on whether you’re interested in buying or selling your home. Below you’ll find highlights of the process for both.
BUYERS
When working with buyers, we start with a meeting—in-person, via phone, or video—to establish goals and to understand where clients are coming from so we can meet them where they are in the process (our Buyer Questionnaire helps with this too!). Some clients need to sell a current home before they can buy, some are first-time homebuyers, some are already preapproved with a good understanding of what they can afford, others are just beginning to explore. Some talking points in our early meetings include:
Meet me in Old Town at Windermere Abode! If you’d rather go for coffee, let’s choose a Tacoma roaster and sit down for a chat.
Setting overall goals
Understanding client needs
Establishing financing
Setting search criteria
Establishing a timeline
Discussing current market data and what is required to purchase in this market
Looking at area specific market data (sold/pending/active) - is inventory tight, is this a competitive market for buyers?
Going over what a Purchase & Sale agreement looks like and what it consists of
Discussing how to make an offer
Discussing what to expect after an offer is accepted (aka mutual acceptance)
Going over the review process including: Inspection, Title, Escrow, Closing, etc....
Once this information is reviewed, we're on to the fun part of looking at homes and finding the one that suits your needs best.
SELLERS
Working with sellers involves proper valuation and marketing of a home, and it involves intentional preparation and presentation. We start with listening to understand your goals, timeline, questions, and needs (our Seller Questionnaire aids in this too). We want to hear your story, how long you’ve lived in or owned the home, and learn what you’ve done to change, improve, repair, or alter the home. Online home valuation tools don’t know about the countertops you put in last year, the refinished hardwoods, the landscaping, your beautiful tile backsplash, your plumbing improvements, or the age of your roof. We love the story of your home for its own sake, but it’s also really important in helping us establish a price range for your home. Once we’ve listened, we’re happy to advise on repairs, updates, and efforts that will offer a good return on your investment, as well as what may not be a valuable use of time and funds. The process starts with a site visit where we go over several things, including:
We’ll work together to get your home looking warm and welcoming and ready to sell.
Your relationship with the home - how long have you owned the home, what do you value most about it, what updates, renovations, and repairs have your completed?
Discuss timelines, goals and needs
Define needed maintenance and repair (if desired) - and provide resources for any needed services such as painters, roofers, cleaners, a landscape crew, etc.
Review a neighborhood market analysis to examine how homes are selling in your area
Review marketing tools and past examples
Clarify all initial seller questions
Depending on a seller’s timeline and readiness, we will schedule follow-up visits to:
Provide a market analysis of similar properties
Establish a pricing strategy - this is a range and we revisit the price point with you as we approach the listing date
Discuss potential buyer criteria such as loan types your home will qualify for, whether you’d like to request a rent-back or longer closing, etc.
Outline what to expect once the property is on the market - showings, open houses, etc.
Review and fill out listing and disclosure forms
Sign agreement and list your home on the specified date
