Seattle real estate and me: 

 I run around and work my tail off making sure that all my transactions run as smoothly as possible.  I make sure that all of my clients are comfortable and shield them from some of the stresses of moving.  I push the paperwork around in a timely fashion and make sure that all deadlines and contingencies are respected. I am organized and completely on it when it comes to making sure that a transaction gets all of my attention!

Closing and others:

I expect the same from everyone else in a real estate transaction. My clients and my file should be just as important to everyone else working on it as it is to me. Unfortunately, I find myself having to babysit other people's jobs to make sure that the deadlines are met.  This has always been the case. 

 Most of the time, the job is getting done, but there is a lack of communication or sense of urgency.  I find this unacceptable and want constant communication in my transactions.  I want to know that everyone is doing their job for my client to the best of their abilities - right?  Is that too much to ask?

The 2008 Seattle real estate market has been different, but I am having a blast and have already helped a lot of people into and out of homes that I have sold or listed. I have had the pleasure of working with some great escrow companies and one not so great one.  I have also worked with a few lenders and found half to be fabulous and half to be not so fabulous.  Having a team in place is important, but a sales contract doesn't always allow you to use that team.  To top it off, the mortgage companies and banks that are still offering loans are swamped with contracts and at least in my recent experience, have absolutely NO RESPECT FOR A CLOSING DATE.  The mortgage brokers have been great, but I think they don't have as much pull with the underwriters and reps anymore because they can't just pull the loan and go somewhere else.

A solution?

I know that as hard as I try, I can not control EVERY aspect of a transaction - I can only work with the best people possible and make sure that paperwork is passed around in a timely manner.   I can continue to meet my deadlines and give my clients the best possible service.   Do I need to also put a system in place to protect our expectations as to contractual closing dates?  Do I have to give the lender one official closing date and have a later "secret" closing date between the buyer and seller?  I mean, seriously, if I gave the lender 60 days instead of 30 to close, would they still need a one or two day extension?  I think so!  Any suggestions on how we as Realtors can change our business model so that our clients are protected in the best way since closing dates mean nothing apparently? 

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Green Lake (Greenlake), Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!