The Real Estate Industry is a complex industry indeed and there are so many different factors to make a transaction work.  If one party does not do their job or another does not work together with another in a timely manner then that dream of homeownership for a buyer is doomed to fail and the home seller will fail in selling their home.

The Realtor® representing the Buyer, Realtor® representing the Seller, Loan Officer. The Lender, Home Inspector, Escrow Officer, Termite Inspector, Appraiser should all be working together as a team to make the transaction run smoothly. When one party slacks the whole transaction goes haywire and it is needless stress, worry and effort to have others ‘clean it up' lest the transaction fail.

• No matter what, your Realtor® will stay on top on everyone to make sure that the contingencies in the contract are followed and that everything is submitted in a timely manner to follow all timelines in the contract.  If you are uncomfortable with something, DO NOT HESITATE to bring it to the attention of your Realtor®.
• Make sure your loan officer knows each program and explains it well. Just make sure and ask questions about your loan program, your loan process and you are comfortable with the answers.
• The Home Inspector should be certified and a member of NAHI, bonded and insured and a member of your local board is a plus as well. When the home inspector starts adding things in the report that is not of his expertise (i.e. home is worth x amount less due to ....) then something is wrong.
• The Escrow Company is the third neutral party taking care of all documents to be submitted and ordered (title report etc) under the timeline of the contract during the transaction as well as taking care of all monies deposited and distributed for payoffs when the transaction closes (records).
• The Termite Inspector inspects the property for drywood and ground termites which run rampant in our tropical paradise. An Inspector does his job, writes the report and submits to Buyer and Seller Agents and the escrow company.
• The Appraiser inspects, measures and takes everything into account when appraising the property and it is more than just a market price. If there is an ocean view they adjust.  Condition, year, sq/ft of land/interior is compared.
• Hawaii Home Buyer  Yes, you too are a party in the transaction. If you even want to get into contract for that home you love....don't be a killer negotiator and insult the seller if it's priced right. You may lose that home you really love! Whatever the Realtor®, Loan Officer and Escrow ask you to do...do it quickly and in a timely manner. You have your part to play in the transaction too! 
• Hawaii Home Seller. Oh, yeah, you also have your part to do too. Pricing aggressively for a slow market is surely only the first step in marketing your property. Getting all documentation in quickly that your Realtor® needs is another. Listen to the advice of your Realtor® to make your home more appealing, decluttered and presentable for showing appointments. Be flexible in your schedule. The more you show the more chance you have of getting every possible buyer in to view.

Note: VA Loans have very strict VA guidelines to follow. VA does not do the loan...they guaranty the lender that they will cover a percentage of the loan should the buyer default and therefore they have their guidelines for the lender and vet to follow. For one...no the loan officer cannot initial mistakes of a street name. They have their own VA Appraisers as well. There is no accepting non permitted rooms, retainer walls without permits. It is permitted or torn down. PERIOD.

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It is up to all of us to go above and beyond in thinking AND DOING in the best interests of our clients as well as all the professionals involved in the transaction.

This is not a game.

We are ALL holding other people's lives in our hands.

Teamwork is the formula. 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com