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Why Do I Wear Jeans and Sneakers and When Showing Homes in the Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex Area?

By Craig Rutman

Real Estate Agent with Helping people in transition 210155

July 25, 2011 07:43 AM

Why Do I Wear Jeans and Sneakers When

Showing Homes in the Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex Area?

Craig Rutman, your Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area Realtor will be wearing jeans and sneakers when showing you homes. But only because he's trying to protect your money. Call me today to discover all the details on his wardrobe choice! 919-349-9530 Well, my dear readers, it's really quite simple.

One reason is because I'm the epitome of a fashion faux paus!

I've been cited on numerous occasions for wardrobe infractions by the fashion police.

I'm often the recipient of the line, "Are you really going to wear that... in public?"

But, the real reason I dress in jeans and sneakers when showing homes in the Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area is because of a little change in our Offers to Purchase and Contract forms:

The Due Diligence Period

Yes, folks, a recent change in our offers has effected how I dress!

You see, we now have a Due Diligence period where, once an offer is accepted, the seller effectively takes the home off the market while the buyer performs their Due Diligence (ie: all their home inspections, secures financing, gets estimates, etc.).

The buyer writes a check directly to the seller; the Due Diligence Fee. This is NON-REFUNDABLE money. However, it is credited to the buyer if they close on the transaction. The buyer has "bought" the right to back out for any reason, or no reason, during the Due Diligence period. The monies kept by the seller are the "damages" for taking the home off the market if the buyer doesn't close.

Sound confusing? It can be if you don't have a buyer's agent helping you.

Get to the point Craig!

How did this change the way you dress?

OK. OK. Don't get your kilts all in a wad!

Once again, it's very simple. The reason I dress the way I do when showing you homes is because if you find a home you are really considering writing an offer on, I WILL crawl around in the attic for you.

I WILL get out my flashlight and get in the crawl space for you.

I WILL get into the accessible eaves.

Is there mold? Are there noticeable leaks? Is the crawl space more like a swamp, than dry like it should be? Have termites been feasting on the wood that's supposed to be holding up the house you're considering calling your home?

Now, I'm not a home inspector, nor do I pretend to be, and I'm adamant about my buyers having a professional home inspection performed, but I do know some "red flag" signs to look for.

Rather than having you shell out NON-REFUNDABLE money only to "discover" these problems later on, I'd rather wear my jeans and sneakers and discover them BEFORE you write the offer.

Remember, it's your money. And part of my job, as your buyer's agent, is to protect it.

I think I can best do that when I'm not in a suit and tie!

I'll wear those at the closing table!

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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Doug Bullwinkel

E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

Another amazing story Craig. Is there no limitation to your talent and skills? I can hardly wait for the "Craig for President" posters that I predict will be coming soon.

Jul 25, 2011 07:25 PM

Scott Fogleman

New Home Team - Richmond, VA

Sounds like a good way to do business

Jul 25, 2011 10:46 PM

Laura Giannotta

Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Your Realtor Down the Shore!

Interesting change in the law. Was the state REALTOR association on board with this (the nonrefundable deposit), and is it an idea that will be spreading? (Look in the Magic 8 Ball, and tell me!)

Jul 25, 2011 11:11 PM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Hey all,

Just to reiterate it one more time.

The only reason I do this is to provide an extra level of service to my clients.

I will not and I do not make any assumptions about any defect I may see.

I only give an opinion so my buyers can decide if they're ready to make an offer and begin spending money... some of which is non-refundable.

Jul 26, 2011 02:32 AM

Denise Roberts

New Colony Properties, LLC - Pinehurst, NC

e-PRO, REALTOR - Specializing in Pinehurst, NC Area

Interesting spin on the changes that we've been dealing with in our "New" Contract, Craig! We are seeing more Seller's perform inspections on their homes prior to listing...and making the inspection report available to the prospective Buyer's. I recommend this technique to my Seller's, stating that it could possible bring them more Due Diligence money with an offer.

P.S. I, for one, don't do crawlspaces! ;-)

Jul 26, 2011 03:22 AM

Elizabeth Cooper-Golden

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL

Huntsville AL MLS

My kind of guy! I'd wear jeans and flip flops every day if I could. I'm a bit shocked that the buyers write the check directly to a seller and it's non-refundable. I do crawlspaces and attics as well. I think we should look for any potential issues. I have found burnt out trusses, water a foot deep and many other issues that did change my buyers offer. We need to perform our due diligence as well...NOT that we are home inspectors.

Jul 26, 2011 04:02 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Hi everyone,

With respect to writing a check directly to the seller, this is NOT the earnest money deposit which is typically written to the firm holding the listing and deposited into a trust account.

The Due Diligence Fee is written directly to the seller. It is considered the "damages" accrued by the seller for effectively taking the home off the market during the Due Diligence period.

Whether I'm representing the buyer or the seller, I have my strategies for how much Due Diligence fees should be, and how much, if any earnest money should be written, and when it should be presented.

Like I said in the post, "Sounds confusing?"

It is if you try to go it alone.

Jul 26, 2011 04:12 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

I know some agents who strictly work with beach front properties and wear shorts..flip flops and even a straw hat so if it fits the part then why not?

Jul 26, 2011 05:58 AM

Debbie Walsh

SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY

Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Wow what an interesting procedure to get started buying a house down there. I too try and dress the part for that same reason. I actually had to crawl under a 2 ft deck last week-ICK! Great job Craig-North Carolina's Realtor of Choice!

Jul 26, 2011 06:48 AM

Dawn A Fabiszak

Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO

The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Wow, Craig. I'm not sure if I would like that in the Colorado conracts. I guess I'm on the fence, but it does make a buyer more accountable.

Jul 26, 2011 07:54 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

The new revision is not perfect, but it definitely does make it more of a win-win for both parties. Buyers used to be able to just walk away without penalty if they didn't get financing or if there were repairs the seller didn't want to make. Now there is no financing contingency and buyers have the Due Diligence period to perform all their inspections.

Jul 26, 2011 08:22 AM

Gloria Todor

Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA

& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Hi Craig, Sounds like a good reason to me to dress like you do. Sneakers or running shoes?

Your "dear reader" jeans remind me of jeans way back, that, after you washed and lined dried them they would be stiff as a board and could stand up just like those in your photo! lol

Gloria

Jul 26, 2011 09:01 AM

Marian Goetzinger

Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Darn it Craig. I have a closet full of skirts and nice girly blouses. My strappy pumps go with those outfits and now you're gonna have buyers expecting me to dress in crawling around clothes. I'm wondering if I could just make you a root beer float once a week and for that, you can come down (dressed appropriately) to the beach and crawl around all my potential sales sites and check them out for me. Deal?

Jul 26, 2011 09:01 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

That's an interesting concept of due diligence. In our area, once a contract has been signed, another buyer cannot present an offer for primary consideration unless the first contract is rescinded. due diligence wouldn't matter, and never would I allow a buyer to write a check payable directly to a seller

Jul 26, 2011 02:00 PM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Gloria - You little link clicker you! I was going t ogo with this pic instead, but in the end, I decided to use the one I chose.

Marian - You do make a compelling offer Marian. I'll have to think about this one!

Ed - Here, once a home is under contract, other buyers can present offers but they are considered back up offers. Once the original contract is terminated only then can a seller move forward with the back up offer. As far as you never allowing your buyers to write a check directly to the seller, give me a call and I'll tell you how it works and why it was implemented.

Jul 26, 2011 02:47 PM

Dawn Brenengen

Dawn Brenengen - Trailwood Realty - Raleigh, NC

Sales and Management

I like the new due diligence idea. It makes our contracts much more "sticky."

Jul 27, 2011 04:42 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Dawn - I do agree that it makes our contracts more "sticky" as you put it. It's not perfect yet. But's better than it was last year.

Jul 27, 2011 08:58 AM

Dawn Brenengen

Dawn Brenengen - Trailwood Realty - Raleigh, NC

Sales and Management

Agreed!

Jul 27, 2011 09:07 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Dawn - :)

Jul 27, 2011 09:11 AM

The Elise Bickel Team

ReMax Select Realty - Pittsburgh, PA

Leasing, Property Management and Sales

I often show up at open houses 3-4 hours early to clean and set up in jeans and the owners love it. Then about 30 minutes before it actually starts I change into my "open house" gear.

Jul 28, 2011 12:28 PM