How does the real estate professional earn his/her fee? By doing the work set forth in a listing contract, by marketing your home effectively, by helping to negotiate a sales contract that meets your needs and wishes, by shepherding the transaction to a successful closing. And if he or she represents the buyer, then the fee is earned by helping you to find the home that best suits you, by negotiating a transaction that fits your financial profile and other needs and by guiding the transaction to its closing.

And there is more involved, usually unseen by most clients. There is the training; the study to stay on top of real estate tax matters, legal developments, market trends; the constant review of the marketplace, what is for sale, price appreciation, buyer trends; the time spent creating effective advertising for listings, flyers, open houses; the calls to potential buyers, the contacts with other agents. There are times when everything must be dropped because a document has to get from point A to point B in less than an hour. Times when tempers need to be soothed, inspectors let into the home, lenders given a better idea of the true value of the property than mere mathematics can provide. Like teachers, real estate professionals are at work long after class is dismissed. For assistance with all your real estate needs just call Beth at (425) 450-5208 and visit her website at www.bethbillington.com.

Beth Billington is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Bain in Bellevue, WA.