Ask the Raleigh Real Estate Expert Archives - Page 2 of 29

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018

S.T.O.R.I.E.S Above – Saving a Family from Foreclosure

I’m Julie, the Director of First Impressions at Linda Craft & Team REALTORS. One day recently I received a call from a home owner who was facing foreclosure and was going to lose the family’s home in five days. After compassionately listening to the situation they were facing and gathering pertinent information, I forwarded everything to Steve Kruger, one of our listing partners. Steve did an analysis of the property and realized there was quite a bit of equity in the home.

One of the things I like about working on this dedicated team is that we have a combined total of 350 years of experience. That’s a ton of knowledge and know-how. We collaborate on everything!

With his research in-hand, Steve went to Linda Craft and asked her if there wasn’t something we could do to stop the foreclosure clock. Remember, the deadline was in 5 short days.

There’s usually no grace period from the foreclose court system, so we knew we had to present a powerful case for this family or they would have to walk away from their home without a penny. Our market analysis showed they could sell for a profit and we were determined to get it for them.

Linda and Steve acted quickly to contact the foreclosure attorney to see if there was any way to secure a bit more time. Even in the best of circumstance with a cash offer and a quick “as is” closing they knew we would need a minimum of ten days to pull this off.

There’s so much that has to be done from initial listing to closing; we have to measure, photograph, list and advertise, show to perspective buyers, negotiate offers, and get it to closing with a clear title. We also have to secure a written payoff from the lender that includes all the back payments, attorney’s fees, court costs, and any other amounts that may be due. Stopping a foreclosure is a lot more work than just a traditional sale and time was running out.

When Steve and Linda contacted the foreclosure attorney, they were able to present the case and get the time they needed. Our awesome team was able to list the home for sale fast. Showings began and offers started coming in. We were able to negotiate a cash sale that closed successfully with only 24 hours remaining before the court deadline. Whew!

The beautiful thing about all the hard work the team put into this situation is that this family ended up with a substantial profit and NO foreclosure on their credit record. If they had not called our office when they did and if they had not reached a company that had the experience that we have in knowing how to handle all real estate transactions, they would have walked away with a foreclosure on their record and zero dollars in their pockets.

One of our Core Values is Integrity, which means we always do the right thing for our clients. We are proud to say our clients walked away with $86,000 and peace of mind knowing they would not be going through foreclosure and the seven-year recovery period that goes with it. And, they used our moving truck for FREE to move.

The first two words in our mission statement are “Helping people…” S.T.O.R.I.E.S Above, like this one, is why I love working for Linda Craft & Team REALTORS.

Linda Craft & Team REALTORS is the Triangle’s #1 ranked, locally-owned Real Estate Company and Carolina Hurricanes Corporate Real Estate Sponsor. They have served the real estate needs of individuals and families, in all price ranges, for over 30 years. The company’s mission and core values focus on Expert Market Knowledge coupled with Raving Fan Customer Service to ensure complete client satisfaction. For more information about Linda Craft & Team, please call 919-235-0007 or visit www.lindacraft.com

April 17, 2018

Linda Craft & Team – Check List for Spring Cleaning

Whether you bought your home from Linda Craft & Team last year or ten years ago, it may be time for a good spring cleaning. Set aside a Saturday (time) to get it done and solicit the whole family to help. To be as organized as possible, you’ll need a plan, a logical way to navigate the whole house. Here is a handy floor to ceiling check list from Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS. Let’s get started!

FOYER:

Wipe walls, ceiling and trim
Dust and wipe down all light fixtures
Wash doors, knobs, and switch plates
Empty out coat closet. Donate items that no one uses anymore
Clean or replace entry mat
Sweep and mop floors
Wipe doors with a Magic Eraser and wipe doors with disinfectant

BEDROOMS:

Open the windows and air out the room – as long as the pine dust is not falling
Dust furniture
Go through your dresser draw by draw; empty out content and wipe down the drawer. Donate items you no longer need or want. It’s best to bag them up and go ahead and place them in your car
Move the bed; sweep and vacuum under the bed.
You can freshen up your mattress by sprinkling a little baking soda on the bare surface, letting it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuuming it up. You can also add essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus or peppermint to the baking soda to add your favorite scent
Wash all the bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water
Dust lights and lamp shades with a lint roller
Wash windows and window sills
Clean mirrors and dust art
Wipe doors with a Magic Eraser and wipe doors with disinfectant
Sweep and mop floors or vacuum – consider professionally cleaning carpets

BATHROOMS:

Open windows if pine dust is not flying
Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside and replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics
Wash outside of cabinets and vanities
Clean tub and drain
Clean toilet inside and out. Be sure to clean around seat bolts and check tightness
Clean sink and drain
Shine faucets
Clean mirror and frame
Dust light fixtures – wash if glass
Wash windows and window sills
Wash switch plates
Wipe down walls and trim
Wash floor registers and other vent covers
Sweep and wash floors

KITCHEN:

Open windows
Remove and clean window coverings
For each cabinet or drawer. Remove items, wipe out drawers, and replace items back neatly. Donate unneeded items
Wash and sanitize cutting boards
Sharpen knives
Wash cabinet doors and knobs
Organize pantry
Clean oven
Clean stove top. Remove elements, clean, and put back
Check food expiration dates in freezer and discard any expired items
Clean under refrigerator and stove
Vacuum refrigerator coils
Clean microwave by heating a glass of water and vinegar and letting it sit and steam inside; then wipe down.
Clean crumbs out of toaster and toaster oven
Wipe down counters and back splash
Clean dishwasher
Dust light fixtures
Wash windows and window sills
Wipe walls and trim as needed
Wash doors and door knobs
Sweep and mop floor

LIVING ROOM / FAMILY ROOM / PLAYROOM:

Open windows if it is past pollen season
Wash windows and window sills
If window screens have been in all winter, take them out and wash them
Vacuum all furniture
Spot clean furniture where needed or professionally clean fabric
Wash all blankets and throw pillows
Dust shelves and tables
Clean TV screen and dust all electronics
Sort books and magazines
Wipe walls and trim as needed
Wash fireplace screen or clean ash for wood burning fireplaces
Sweep and mop floors

OUTSIDE:

Sweep porches and walkways
Wash thresholds
Wash exterior doors. Paint front door if needed
Clean or replace welcome mat
Have outside surfaces power washed if needed

Do you need assistance with any of these projects? At Linda Craft & Team we have an excellent list of talented professionals who provide home care services in the Triangle area. All of them have our stamp of approval from deep cleaning to plumbers! Call our Raleigh office today to get a copy – 919-235-0007. And by the way, when you tackle that home office, remember our Annual Shred Event to be held May 12^th from 10am – 2pm at 7300 Six Forks Road. Securely dispose of all those sensitive documents you no longer need!

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018

3 Reasons Why the Raleigh Area is a Great Place to Relocate

There’s a lot of buzz about “Best Places to Live” flying around the internet. Without a doubt if you Google “Hottest Housing Markets” you will see Raleigh, NC positioned in the top 10 on most lists depending on what criteria is used. So a safe bet (since you are reading this blog) is that if you are looking to relocate, Raleigh is one of the places you are considering.

What’s so great about the City of Oaks? Well, let’s take a look at why Raleigh continues to be a such great value. Most of these online rankings are based on things like employment opportunities, unemployment rates, average income estimates, housing values, and population growth. Some even take a look at lifestyle factors such as outdoor recreation, restaurants and entertainment, and higher education. So what does it all mean, really?

First, You Have to Bring Home the Bacon

Let’s get serious. First and foremost you have to pay the bills, so employment opportunities rank highest on everyone’s list when it comes to relocating. The Triangle area has a reputation worldwide as one of the most progressive, hi-tech, finance, and healthcare hubs. IBM, Cisco, SAS, and Glaxo, Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo, Lenovo are some of the largest employers in the area. The Triangle also boasts one of the largest entrepreneurial networks in the world with a 30-year track record of successfully nurturing startup companies. These are a few reasons why the unemployment rate is 3.6% – .5% under the national average.

Second, Can I Afford a Home in the Triangle?

Yes, housing is tight all over the country. Median home values in the Raleigh area is around $266,000 according to Forbes. So much more affordable than the western part of the country and definitely cheaper than the northeastern part of the US.

Raleigh saw an appreciation rate of 5.9% last year but that’s estimated to level off to 3.7% this year keeping prices from skyrocketing as they have in other parts of the country. With a median household income of $84,288, the American Dream of owning a home is very achievable in Raleigh and the surrounding areas.

Third, Will I Enjoy Living in the Triangle?

Well, that all depends on your tastes and interests. If you like to be outdoors, enjoy moderate temperatures most of the year, like the beach or the mountains, then you will definitely enjoy this area. Here’s a link to things to do in NC which will help you connect with area offerings.

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill each house top-ranked universities – NC State University, Duke, and the University of North Carolina. So what? Well, having three college towns means loads of restaurants, entertainment, and SPORTS!!! Where else can you enjoy all the benefits of THREE major universities all within 30 minutes of each other.

Need Help Relocating?

One of the favorite things our agents love about working here is being able to help people relocate to this area. Many have lived here for years; some have lived here all their lives and they have raised their own families here. Wouldn’t a person like that be someone you would trust to share their knowledge of the area with you; helping you to find just the right neighborhood and the right home for you and your family? Give us a call and talk to one of our relocation specialists today!

February 12, 2018

Sink or Swim – Diving into the Raleigh Housing Market?

Like any major investment, buying a home is all about timing.

Is now the best time to take the risk and jump into the home ownership pool? In the Raleigh market, 2018 certainly looks like the right time; but sooner rather than later because it could be quite a different pool you are jumping into if you wait until the latter part of the year.

Yes, the past couple of years or so have seen crazy upward movement in price appreciation and yes, there’s a shortage of inventory – record lows to be exact. While all that doesn’t seem too comforting to a buyer, there are other aspects to consider about the temperature of that housing pool you are about to dive into.

Even this early in 2018 we are seeing some home prices leveling off, and while inventory is still low, analysts say all that is about to turn a corner, especially in price points above $350,000. While 2017 saw home prices appreciating at a rate of 5.9%, these prices are expected to level out this year to around 3.7 in the Triangle area.

Three other factors could push you into the pool sooner rather than later:

Two – four more mortgage rate increases are predicted to happen this year. You could be looking at a rate of 5% by the end of 2018. Increased mortgage rates decrease the amount of home you can afford to buy.
While prices are not predicted to climb at the steep increase we’ve seen this past year, they are going to continue to climb.
Home builders are working hard to close that gap in inventory, however, construction labor is not getting any cheaper, land in the Raleigh proper market is scarce, and banks are getting tighter with building loans. These limitations slow the supply side of housing availability.

Buying is still a more desirable option than renting in the long-term.

Even if this competitive market makes it a challenge to find just what you want in a home, it is possible if you seek the right team of Realtors to help you. If you are considering taking that plunge in the near future, it’s best to consult a Realtor who has years of experience in this market. Think of them as your personal lifeguard. Their knowledge and determination can be the difference between a refreshing dip in the housing pool or diving head first into the deep end without a floatation device.

If you think purchasing a home in this market is tricky, set up a consultation with one of our agents and let them guide you through the ins and outs of buying safely in this market. Our 30+ years of helping people like you buy and sell homes in the Raleigh area gives us a vast amount of knowledge we are ready to put to work for you.

October 24, 2017October 27, 2017

Explore Dog-mopolitan Raleigh

A Canine-friendly City

Americans, in general, love our dogs.

It’s true! Over 78 million furry friends reside in US households and over 44% of all households in the US have at least one pooch. Folks in Raleigh are no exception when it comes to pawsitively loving their dogs. One great thing about Raleigh, and really the whole Triangle area, is that except for the immediate downtown areas, it’s not as urban as many large cities which means Fido will probably have a backyard, even if it is small. In the more urban areas, there are numerous city parks, dog parks, and many, many restaurants, trails, outdoor activities, and events, that make it pawsible for dogs to join in life’s special moments.

Looking for a Canine Concierge?

Are you looking to relocate to the Triangle area?

Raleigh alone has over 40 hotels that are pet-friendly. So if you are looking to relocate to the area, you will have no problem bringing your dog with you when you come to visit. BringFido.com is a great source for finding a hotel to stay in where your pup will be welcome! So is HotelGuide.com.

Bone A-pet-treat!

With our temperate climate in the Triangle, most restaurants have some sort of outdoor seating and will welcome your well-behaved. furry friend to join you alfresco! So don’t furget your furry companion. Take them along with you! Here are a few favorites:

Downtown Raleigh	North Hills Raleigh	Cameron Village	North Raleigh
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen	Chuy’s	Benelux Coffee	Restaurants in Lafayette Village
Raleigh Brewing Company	King’s	Tazza Kitchen	Saints & Scholars Irish Pub
The Station	Mura	The Flying Biscuit	Sola Coffee Cafe
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar	Another Broken Egg Cafe	The Players Retreat	Gonza Taco Y Tequilla

There are hundreds of dog-friendly restaurants in Raleigh alone.

Need help deciding where to go? Yelp.com can help. Type “dog-friendly restaurants” in the search and select the city you want. You will see pictures and reviews of restaurants all over the Triangle written by dog owners who have enjoyed dining with their dogs. Also, check out these apps to keep up with what’s happening in the Triangle area:

Downtown Raleigh
Offline
WRAL Out & About
Go Eats
KoMoot
Indy Go

Tails on the Trails

The Triangle area is ideal for active lifestyles with your dog.

Want to spend a fun day out and about with your pup? There are numerous trails and dog parks to explore. NC Museum of Art Trails, Umstead Park, Eno River Park, Tobacco Trail, and more all offering excellent hiking trails and most are close to dining areas as well. Here are some websites you can explore to find a trail that’s looks interesting to you.

Trail	Website
Capital Area Greenway System	www.RaleighNC.gov
NC Museum of Art Trails	www.NCArtMuseum.org
Umstead Park	www.NCParks.gov
Eno River Park	www.NCParks.gov
American Tobacco Trail	www.WakeGov.com

If you want a special treat or if the weather is not ideal for outdoors activities, Woofinwaggle, a fitness center and dog spa in North Raleigh, has daily classes you can take to work out with your dog. Amazing, right?

If you are relocating to the Raleigh or just moving within the Triangle area, Linda Craft & Team REALTORS can help you find the right neighborhood for your dog-friendly lifestyle. Contact us today to let us know what your goals are and how we can best help you meet them.

April 18, 2017

Your Raleigh Home and Radon Danger

What is Radon? How Does It Get Into My Home?

Radon is a chemical element formed when uranium in water, rock, and soil begins to break down. This causes the release of radon gas into the dirt which could be beneath your house. It gets into your home through gaps and cracks in walls and floors, spaces around pipes that enter the house through the foundation, fireplaces and furnaces, exterior air vents and if you have well water, it can come in that way too. It’s heavier than air so it tends to collect in lower levels and basements.

So How Serious is This, Really?

Well, on one hand, we are around a certain amount of radon all the time; however, in the open air it tends to dissipate at a quicker rate. If it gets captured in the home, it is more concentrated and that’s where the problems start. Radon gas emits ionizing radiation which damages DNA and can cause cancer. It can be pretty serious, so your home should be tested regularly.

Although radon has been declared a national health problem, there are no real federal or state standards that mandate taking care of the problem. The EPA has made the following recommendations:

4/pCi/L – is qualified as an “action” limit. It means fix your home now!
2 pCi/L – is qualified as “consider action.” It is strongly suggested you fix your home.

Since cleaning up radon issues can cost on average about $1,200, the EPA has not made it mandatory because of the burden to homeowners. However, they have made it known that this is NOT safe. Their studies also show that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Over 20,000 people die each year because of this invisible radioactive gas.

For more information, take a look at the EPA’s online brochure: Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon.

How Do I Know If Radon is in My Home?

There are DIY kits you can purchase at any hardware store that you can use to test for radon at an average cost of $25 per kit. Make sure it is labeled “Meets EPA Requirements.” Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Results take a couple of weeks for processing.

A better solution is to hire a professional to do electronic radon testing. It takes less time, provides better quality results, and you get the results back sooner because samples don’t have to send away to a lab. The average cost of testing is $110. If you do have an radon issue in your home, the same company can also perform the mitigation services.

If I Have an Issue with Radon, What Do I Do?

If you have a radon level anywhere near 4 pCi/L, you should take steps as soon as you can to reduce the level. The good news is that installing a removal system will vent the radon gas from beneath your home immediately, eliminating 99% of the radon. You should always solicit the help of a certified radon mitigation service to install the removal system. They can also assess the points of origin where the radon gas may be getting in your home and repair them.

How Often Should I Test My Home for Radon?

If you’ve never had your home tested, do a long-term test as soon as you can. Also, the first round of tests should be performed in two different heating and cooling seasons. Maybe do one in the spring and one in the fall for best results. After that, every 2 years is fine under normal circumstances.

Exceptions to this guideline may occur if you have had any major changes to your home; renovations, ventilation changes, earthquakes, and ground settling can all lead to changes in radon gas levels. Also, if your living arrangements change and you find you are spending more time in the lower level or basement of the home.

Testing for radon is fairly inexpensive (on average $12 per test), so why not give yourself peace of mind? You’ll rest and breathe easier knowing that the air in your home-sweet-home is safe.

Contact Us for More Information

At Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS®, we have over 30 years of real estate experience in the Greater Raleigh area. Whether you are buying a home or selling a home, allow us to equip you with our wealth of knowledge and homeownership advice, from information about radon and other home hazards to a vast network of recommended service providers. Schedule an appointment with us today by calling 919-235-0007.

January 7, 2016January 21, 2016

How to Successfully Market Your Home in the Digital Age

When is the last time you looked for a new home in a newspaper or magazine ad? How about your desktop computer?

Since becoming an integral part of everyday life, mobile devices now account for 77% of all home viewings and have permanently changed the way real estate marketing operates. So how do you successfully market your Raleigh home when selling in this digital age?

Home Staging is More Important Than Ever

On-the-go technology has given the average home buyer access to more information regarding the history and value of a property than ever before, but has also created a new type of filtering system with home portraits.

Attract Buyers Even with Smaller Listing Photos

two mobile phones displaying cluttered and decluttered kitchens in a raleigh home — A seemingly cluttered kitchen (left) vs. a professionally staged kitchen (right)

In addition, the size and contents of a home portrait play a large role in consumer satisfaction.

On mobile phones all images are small. Any kind of décor other than what is absolutely necessary appears cluttered in a reduced frame and deters potential buyers from the property.

Professional Home Staging is Best

In short, a professionally staged and well-lit home portrait is more desirable and will be clicked on more readily than a dark and amateurish portrait. Even if the latter is more economically sound.

Today’s busy tech savvy buyer will delete properties in an instant based on how they feel about the portrait they are viewing on their mobile device.

Online home listings need to attract viewers — so decluttering has been taken to an all new level, because technology is increasingly faster and smaller.

Market Your Home with Linda Craft & Team

At Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS®, we offer professional home staging, professional photography and advanced techniques to capture today’s digital consumer for all of our sellers.

Our expertise in online marketing is one of the key reasons we are the number one team in the Triangle for selling occupied homes.

Contact us today at 919-235-0007 or linda@lindacraft.com and let’s talk about how we can help your Raleigh home sell faster and for more money.

October 16, 2015February 8, 2016

How New Regulations Will Affect Your Next Home Purchase

New government regulations have made changes to closings and home mortgages.

These federal regulations are known as TRID, which is an acronym within an acronym — TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures. We’re going to see that these changes are going to cost time and money.

If you’re buying a home in the Raleigh area, read more about what changes these new regulations will bring and tips for avoiding costly mistakes during your own closing.

What Are These Changes, Exactly?

The Integrated Disclosures are replacing the Good Faith Estimate, the Truth-In-Lending, and the HUD-1 Settlement Statement for borrowers. For sellers, the Closing Disclosure and the HUD-1 have to be done by the attorneys.

There Are New Timelines for Closings

Once the loan has been completely approved, the lender now has to send the new Closing Disclosure directly to the borrower rather than the closing attorney.

The Closing Disclosure has to be delivered to the borrower 3 business days before closing (or 7 business days if delivered by mail). If there are any changes to the APR, a new Closing Disclosure has to be issued, taking up another 3 days (or 7).

We expect that we are going to have a lot of delays to real estate closings, which costs a lot of money.

Choosing the Right Lender is Crucial

With these new changes to closings and mortgages, it’s more important than ever to choose the right lender.

You need to choose a local lender that has in-house processing and underwriting, and now that TRID changes are here, you need e-signatures so that your Closing Disclosure doesn’t have to be delivered to you by mail. If you’re buying a home in the area, we can recommend great Raleigh area mortgage lenders to help you choose the right lender.

Want to learn more about TRID and what you may experience during closing? Watch my latest video about TRID below, which includes quick tips about avoiding costly closing delays.

Buying a Home in the Raleigh Area?

Now that new regulations have come to mortgages and real estate closings, you want to avoid costly delays in your own closing by choosing the right real estate team.

Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS® are your Raleigh real estate experts, and we can give you up-to-date information about these new changes and advise you about ways to make your home buying process smoother. We can even help you choose the right lender. Call us today at 919-235-0007 or email linda@lindacraft.com and we can get started.

And if you need assistance searching for home, try our easy-to-use home finder to find your perfect home. Have you already found your dream home in Raleigh? Contact us today to schedule a showing.

September 16, 2015September 24, 2015

Selling Your House? Don’t Do These 7 Things!

When it’s time to sell your home, everyone wants to make to most money possible from their sale.

But whether you’re selling your home now or in the future, here are 7 things that you should never do!

1. Don’t List Your Home Before It’s Ready to Show

If you hurry to list your house in Raleigh before it has been made ready to show, it will not present well and it will not sell well. A little patience on the front end will speed up the sale and raise the sales price, too.

How we live in a home and how we present it to buyers when we want them to write a big check is never the same. I have a list of 10 basic things Raleigh home sellers should do to get their home sold on my website at lindacraft.com.

2. Don’t Over-Improve Your House

People buy a house within a neighborhood. If your house is so improved that it sticks out and does not fit in with the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, you are hurting your chances of selling and rarely do you get your investment back.

My clients often call me with ideas about adding on to their home, and the first thing I do is run comps to see if the neighborhood will support it.

3. Don’t Hide Anything

Covering up or failing to mention real problems doesn’t work. North Carolina disclosure rules are strict and you can be sued for non-disclosure of anything that was hidden from the buyer. If you know there are problems, fix them or disclose them.

However, the fix will usually cost a lot less than disclosing and asking a buyer to buy your problem. The home buyers usually will not take on an unknown expense, and if they do they will multiply the cost to cure by 3 times to protect themselves.

4. Don’t Paint with Personalized Colors

Neutral sells, and your favorite color to a buyer means they will have to spend their precious time and money to change it.

Buyers pay top dollar for move-in ready homes and want a big discount on the price if it is not.

5. Don’t Rush

It’s important to have all the information about your mortgage payoffs, pre-payment penalties, market trends and conditions for selling, and options for next home before you end up with a financial surprise with a high pay off or being sold with nowhere affordable to go.

6. Don’t Get Emotional

Your attachment to your home and your financial needs don’t really matter to buyers.

If you can’t set your emotions to the side your sale will not go as you would like it too. It is going to be extremely painful for you.

Remember, it’s your home full of memories but, to the buyer… it’s just a house that they have no emotional attachment to yet because it is not theirs. We have a fabulous article on our website titled “It is Mine and I Own It” about the psychology of real estate.

7. Don’t Hire Wrong

Relationships matter, but make your choice for business reasons. Experience and expertise will determine your financial selling success — not relationships.

Let Linda Craft & Team Help You Sell Your Home

It can seem very easy to slip into these “Do Nots” when you’re selling your Raleigh home. But we can help ensure that it doesn’t happen to you. Let us share our real estate knowledge with you and help you get the results you’re looking for when you’re selling your property. Contact Linda Craft & Team today to get started.

August 26, 2015February 8, 2016

Safety Comes First In Real Estate Professions

Safety & Real Estate

Did you know that more real estate agents die each year showing houses than those killed in dangerous professions, like bull riding, stunt pilots, and motorcycle racers? As of now, 25 REALTORS® have been killed while showing houses. And, this number only increases when you consider all of those who were robbed, assaulted, and faced with other life threatening situations.

With that in mind, many real estate professionals are taking measures to ensure safety for both themselves and their clients. This information, provided by the Linda Craft Team, can help you know what to expect when meeting a REALTOR® in the Triangle and Greater Raleigh Area during your home search.

Meet REALTORS® At Their Office or in Public Spaces

Last year the National Association of REALTORS® launched Safety First, where real estate companies mandate that home buyers must meet REALTORS® at their office or a public space, and potential Raleigh home buyers must provide identification.

Open Door was launched to further help protect real estate professionals. Sometimes, meeting at the agent’s office and riding with the REALTOR® can be an inconvenience to either or both parties, especially when the home you wish to view is not nearby. In this case, mortgage companies, title companies, and attorneys register their offices as “open door” places for REALTORS® to meet clients. If your agent requests to meet you at one of these “open door” spaces or their office before heading out to view Raleigh area homes you wish to see, know these are becoming more commonly used safety precautions to protect both parties.

Let the Linda Craft Team Help You Achieve Your Real Estate Goals!

Are you searching for the home of your dreams in the Triangle? Let us help! We pride ourselves in our ability to serve our client’s needs, to include taking the safety precautions to protect both parties. Use these tips for buyers to help you through the process and to ensure a smooth transaction.

Ready to sell your Raleigh area real estate? Home sellers face many of the same safety risks as real estate professionals. Reduce your risk and list your home with the Linda Craft Team, as REALTORS® have more experience in this field and take measures to stay safe on the job.