Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see the answer you are looking for below, just give us a call and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have!

What role do you play as my buyer's agent and what do you charge?  Our services as your buyer's agent are free to you because sellers pay the commissions involved in the sale of the property.  Our role is all encompassing and begins with providing the education, experience, and insight you need to wisely choose the perfect home.  Once we have found the perfect home, we will then prepare and guide you through all of the paperwork.  We can help with recommendations for inspectors, escrow companies, etc and interface with these professionals to keep things as easy and seamless for you.  Real estate is our job, so we pick up all of the slack possible since you likely already have a job and/or family that demands your time.  Ultimately, our job is to hold your hand through the entire process, from beginning to end, to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for you.

As a buyer, can I search for homes on my own?  Absolutely!  Searching for a home is one of most fun parts of finding the right property.  We can certainly help you locate the right home using a more detailed MLS search based on what you tell us you're looking for.  However, your eyes will likely see what you like best, so we encourage you to search on your own.  Two sets of eyes searching is always better than one!

And what if I want to see the inside of a home?  Once you/we have found a home or homes that you want to see, we will do some background research to see what else we can find out about it (i.e. listing history, etc).  We will then call the listing agent representing the seller.  We do this for two reasons, the first is to make sure there aren't any offers on the property.  The second is to find out other useful information about the home as well as info that will help us negotiate the best price for you.  We will also call the owner to let them know when we plan to see the home (unless it is vacant).  We have the technology that allows us to get the keys out of the lockboxes at the home so we can let you in.

What role do you play as my listing agent?  Simply put, our job is to get your home sold as quickly as possible for as much as possible.  Real estate is our career, so we have plenty of experience and insight for you to draw from while listing your home.  Like with buyers, our job is to take care of as much as is possible so you can continue with your daily life as you normally would.  We will research your home and neighborhood to make a recommendation on a price a buyer would be willing to pay.  Basically, the only thing you need to do is keep your home looking clean and inviting, allow potential buyers to see your home with their agent, and be prepared to go over and sign some standard paperwork (the listing agreement and a purchase and sale agreement between you and the buyer).

And what do you charge to list and sell my home?  There are many levels of listing attention and service, and we are primarily a full service brokerage.  Meaning, we are going to continually be working diligently to get your home sold.  Because of this, we charge what has for years been seen as a typical full service fee of 3% of the total sales price.

What if I'm not currently able to qualify for a loan?  We are well experienced with lease options, which is a way for buyers who are not yet able to qualify a loan to choose a home on the market.  We can pair you up with an investor who will buy the home that will you live in as a lease option tenant.  An appropriate future purchase price and timeline for you to purchase from the investor is decided before the initial purchase.  This is a great way for you to pick the home of your dreams even if you are unable to get the necessary loan today.  If you think a lease option may be right for you, just give us a call and we can help you figure out if that is indeed your best scenario.

Are you experienced with short sales and/or bank owned homes?  Yep! Short sales and bank owned homes can be a little tricky, and because of this many buyers and agents prefer to avoid them.  Our experience closing these types of transactions has made us comfortable handling them.  If you are interesting in buying or selling a short sale or buying a bank owned home then we can help!

Do I really need an inspection?  In some rare occasions an inspection may not be necessary.  However, a home inspection is a contingency we can work into the purchase agreement and ensures you know everything you can about a home before you decide to go ahead with the purchase.  A good inspector (which I can recommend) will also give you a lot of advice on preventative maintenance tips to help you keep the home in mint condition.

Can you recommend an inspector, mortgage broker, etc?  Of course!  We provide a service, so accordingly it is always up to you to choose which professionals you want to work with.  Having a team you trust to handle your real estate needs is an important component to ensuring you are happy with your real estate choices for years to come.  If you do not currently have trusted choices for other professionals lined up then we can recommend the people we are most comfortable placing the trust of our clients in.

Prospera Real Estate is a full service real estate brokerage proudly serving the Bellevue, Seattle, King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, and Puget Sound areas of Washington