Home > Blogs > Craig Rutman > Craig's Raleigh, Cary, Apex & Wake County Real Estate Blog.... Presenting the Lighter Side of a VERY Serious Business.

Things Are Not All Black and White When Buying or Selling a Home...

By Craig Rutman

Real Estate Agent with Helping people in transition 210155

May 31, 2011 12:54 AM

Gone are the days when a handshake could consummate a

Real Estate transaction.

Today, buying or selling a home is more like a technicolor experience.

The "Offer to Purchase and Contract", the standard document used here in North Carolina is a very intricate form.

Understanding it is hard enough for some Realtors, let alone those who don't use it every day.

Please consult a Realtor who has a solid grasp of the many forms that will be required to insure your transaction goes smoothly.

If you're in the Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area give me a call.

I know the forms.

Whether you're buying or selling a home, I know how to protect you.

Because things are not all black and white when buying or selling a home.

And you don't want your transaction to go out on the fritz...

About The Author

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex metro areas; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Call me TODAY at 919-349-9530

Email me with your Raleigh - Cary – Apex area questions

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Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®

RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI

Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Craig your tv shot at the end reminds me in the olden days when the tv stations would cut out at midnight or whatever....oops, did I just age myself? LOL

May 31, 2011 03:17 AM

Anita Clark

Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA

Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

It is rare when things are black and white in real estate these days...buyers in the Raleigh NC area would be wise to give you a call so you can assist them through the entire home buying process Craig!

May 31, 2011 03:19 AM

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!

Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT

St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

We watched the Ed Sullivan Show on a TV similar to that at my great grandpa's house! Thank goodness for color! FUN stuff Craig!

May 31, 2011 03:24 AM

Amy Hahn

Pine Knoll Shores Realty - Morehead City, NC

Realtor/Broker - Crystal Coast, NC

How right you are!!!! And the forms are constantly changing too...As realtors, we attend classes to keep up with those changes.

I will say, I wouldn't mind the old black & white tvs again....Sometimes I feel like Television Sets are taking over my house!

May 31, 2011 05:09 AM

Sussie Sutton

David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX

David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

Hey I think in the 50's we had a TV that looked like that! And you are right current transactions are Technicolor!

May 31, 2011 05:22 AM

Dick and Dixie Sells

Sells Real Estate, LLC - Trinity, FL

Realtors, Tampa Bay Florida Homes For Sale

Another great tie in and Photoshop picture. You are right, not always black or white. Alot of grey areas and that is where you come in!

May 31, 2011 05:36 AM

Lynda White

Bluegrass Homes & Farms Realty, Agent Know How - Louisville, KY

Admin. Mgr., Keller Williams Realty

Craig, I started my first real estate job in 2002, and our broker was in his 80s. He conducted many real estate transactions with just a handshake and got quite rich from doing it. He has since passed away, but his sons still run the business.

May 31, 2011 06:39 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Donna - Ha! Ha! Ha! But it IS on TV, Donna!

Scott - And that, my friend, is what keeps this profession interesting.

Sheila - Thank you Sheila! I have a million of them! Just click the Picasa beaker above to see more.

Ed - This job is definitely NOT for the novice... or the squeamish!

Larry & Sheila - And I have more channels than the TV sets in this post!

May 31, 2011 06:58 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Virginia - Thank you Virginia. I do try to go above and beyond the typical marketing when it comes to my listings.

Carol - We had so many changes this year that I feel sorry for those who aren't full timers.

Kristine - You know I'll teach you all I know whenever you're ready to jump into the wonderful world of Photoshop. All you have to do is ask.

Jill - You know I can't reveal my sources Jill! Once I do, like Superman, I lose my magical powers!

Michael - Really? What was it like when the wheel was still square my friend?!!!

Richard - Many of my younger buyers have never even heard of a TV where you actually had to get up to change the channel!

May 31, 2011 07:04 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Jackie - Here in NC, we write up the contracts. We can't change anything on them, but we fill in the particulars of the transaction. The attorneys only get them once they've been ratified. But they are not easily understood if you're not well versed in legalese or the terms and conditions of the form.

Melissa - Being the Short Sale Queen that you are, I'll bet you have many "gray" contracts that are in technicolor!

Kristin - Yes. You just dated yourself Kristin! But fear not, you're aging very well!

Anita - You are so right! It's very rare to have a black and white transaction these days. It's nice to know they do happen every now and then. But for all those times they don't, it's best to have representation.

Wanda - Thank goodness for color! I too am old enough to remember those TV's... and shag carpet, and 8-Tracks, and... dinosaurs!

May 31, 2011 07:11 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Amy - We are required to take mandatory classes here in NC for forms updates. And with all the changes over these past few years, it's a good thing we do.

Sussie - Oh come on Sussie. You expect us to believe that you were around in the 50's? Surely you just read about this in books... right?!!!

Dick & Dixie - If it was all black and white, people wouldn't need us! Real Estate transactions are very complex these days and making a mistake can be very costly.

Lynda - It's been done before. And I'm sure some folks still do it with a handshake. But we live in a litigious society nowadays. I'd rather have representation than a handshake.

Tagrid - I love that you love the creativity of my blogs! If you're smiling then my work is done for the day!

May 31, 2011 07:18 AM

Ellie McIntire

Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD

Luxury service in Central Maryland

One thing you are NOT is a colorless agent. Great ad as usual.

May 31, 2011 08:48 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Craig, I too am in the middle of a transaction that is anything but black and white with the closing being postponed a fourth time now...even when you are on top of everything...live and breathe Real Estate...things still go wrong and you need to have someone who knows what they're doing on your side...Like the wacky, but knowledgeable Craig Rutman...if you're buying or selling in Raleigh, Cary or Apex North Carolina...give Craig a call.

I'll expect my $5 in the mail asap!!

May 31, 2011 10:48 AM

Gay E. Rosen

Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY

As Real as Real Estate Gets!

So true- Craig- you are a marketing genius - you should be advertising!

May 31, 2011 01:12 PM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Ellie - Thank you Ellie. I do try to keep it colorful!

Nick - Shhh. No one knows about the "incentive" plan!

Gay - WOW! Genius and Craig used in the same sentence? That doesn't happen often ever!

Jun 01, 2011 01:07 AM

Brenda Mullen

RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX

Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Terrific way to let folks know that their best bet is to hire a Realtor who has been educated on contracts to get them through a successful transaction Craig! Your marketing is always so cool :)!

Jun 01, 2011 01:26 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Brenda - Buyer representation here in NC, and in many states throughout the country, is FREE! I'll never understand why folks don't insure that they have someone working on their side. Thanks for the "cool marketing" kudos! I try!

Jun 01, 2011 03:33 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Then pay up!!!...otherwise I've got an idea for my next blog post!

Jun 01, 2011 07:58 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Nick - You don't scare me! But the proverbial check is in the mail! I made it out to the "Nick Pappas Say Something Nice on Craig's Blog and Get a Check for $5.00 to Help Defray the Cost of Retirement" fund. Good luck cashing that one my friend!

Jun 01, 2011 08:37 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource