Buyer Agent Expectations for Contracts w Adam

Communication

• I don't use a transaction coordinator or admin at this time.

• Feel free to call or text me 24/7. It's never too late nor too early. If I'm unavailable, I won't respond right away.

• I try to take off on Sundays, so generally if something is urgent on a Sunday & you email me it's best to follow an email with a text or call. I seek to respond within 24 hrs of emails, excluding Saturday afternoon through Monday morning due to my Sunday policy.

• I can be a direct person, and prefer that others be relatively direct with me.

Kindness & Errors

The balancing act in real estate of kindness vs protecting your client's best interest can be difficult in real estate.

• Kindness: If you believe that I am being unkind in a way that isn't necessary for me to protect my clients' best interest, please let me know.

• Errors: If you believe that I am doing something wrong, whether not according to the contract or otherwise, please let me know. I prefer that people tell me their preferences and their feelings when possible so that I can better work with people in the future when I agree on something that should be done differently. My approach is unique in various regards, but if you think something I'm doing is hurtful or otherwise not a best practice, please let me know directly.

Navigating Negotiations

If something isn't common practice, but is according to the contract, you might find me sticking to the contract in cases more than other agents. Discrepancies between contracts & common practice tend to come up with VAR contracts more than REIN contracts in my experience, even among the very experienced.

I also like to have written amendments in place where there are plans to deviate from the contract even in cases where many would be fine with verbal negotiations to limit hiccups and liability, even if the liability is low.

Assistance to Buyer's Agents

I may be more readily available than most agents to assist in the following capacities:

• If there are times when you're unavailable for something & no one else at your firm is available but if I or another agent from my firm was present for something it could help the contract move forward, feel free to let me know, i.e. if you're out of town and trying to get a fill-in for a home inspection.

• If you are new to the area or new to real estate and have questions about the contract.

• If you're having trouble with financing and would like some help with a different lender, a program to reduce home costs, or credit help to get the contract to closing after the deal is in jeapordy, feel free to let me know.

  • Related: Real Estate: Credit & Financial Resources

Form Resources

Here are some form resources that may be beneficial:

• The REIN Standard Purchase Agreement

• Home Inspection Addendums

• REIN Buyer Possession Agreements

• REIN Seller Possession Agreements

Resources Ordered by Contract Timeline

• Buyer Ratified Contract! Now What?

• Home Inspection Requests for Buyers

• HOA Disclosures in Williamsburg Vicinity (by Mr. Williamsburg)

• Receipt of Association Packets in Real Estate

• Utilities List for SE VA (Primarily Hampton Roads)

  • I've seen as high as an 8-day turnaround before water could be cut on from the time of a request when a holiday weekend was involved. If you're waiting to turn on utilities since you're concerned that you won't close on time due to financing, seller repairs, or otherwise, it's best to check in advance with the utility companies for their turnaround time.

• Final Walk-Through Inspection on Real Estate

• Home Condition At Closing

• Tips for House Buyers to Prepare For Closing

• Tips for House Buyers After Closing

Other Resources

Here are some resources that may be beneficial in a transaction with me:

• How to Use a Lockbox

• SE VA House Buyer Guide

• Cost Guide to Repairs & Remodeling

• SE Virginia Area Guide

• Short-Term Rental Options

• Advice When Buying & Selling at the Same Time

• If you are a member of the Virginia Association of Realtors, the VAR legal hotline & their legal resource library are also excellent and free 3rd party resources for members.

Walk Through Inspection

If there's a lockbox that you don't have access to on the listing, I can leave the key in it on the countertop.

The wine cooler that's present in some of my listings is mine that I use at listings, so it will be present at walk through and I'll be taking it with my other things.

I typically like to get the lockboxes and my other things in between the walk-through and the closing if possible. If you are planning the 2 back to back, the more advanced notice that you can give me, the better. Also in those cases, if I'm available at the time, please let me know when you'd like me to come get my things (i.e. 1 hr or 45 mins after the start of a walkthrough).

We use a sign company for large sign installation, so there can be some additional processing time for that.