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Buyer's Guide

BUYER INFORMATION

Buying a home is an exciting time, whether you’re entering the market for the first time or searching for a dream property where you can retire. The Hinds Team are experts on Seattle’s many neighborhoods, and can help you keep the search focused and productive.

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SCHEDULE A MEETING

The Hinds Team will schedule a meeting with you to go over the home buying process.

In this meeting, they will go over the following:

  • Review a sample offer
  • Review Buyer Agency Agreement
  • Ideal timeline to buy
  • Financing
  • Answer questions

They will also discuss what you are looking for in your perfect home. Consider some of the questions below as you start your search.

  •  What neighborhood do you want to live in?
  • How many bedrooms and bathrooms do I need?
  • What features would be nice to have (a fireplace, modern kitchen, big yard, etc.) that I could possibly live without?
  • What kind of commute will I have to work?
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DEFINE YOUR BUDGET

Next, outline your budget for your new home.

If obtaining financing, the Hinds Team will recommend trusted local lenders for you to consult. Make sure you get pre-approved for a loan, as this will make you a more qualified buyer down the line when you’re ready to make an offer.

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HOUSE HUNTING

Now comes the fun part! It’s time to begin your search. The Hinds Team will begin to schedule private tours at homes you’d like to see. Here are some of the ways the Hinds Team will help you search for a home.

  • The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)
  • Reaching out to their colleagues and other trusted real estate agents they’ve built connections with over the past 41+ years for any off-market opportunities.
  • Previewing homes in your desired neighborhoods.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong number of listings to visit before making an offer on a home. You don’t have to rush this part!

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MAKE AN OFFER

In our competitive market, it’s possible that you’ll have to put in offers on a few home before you find the right one.

The Hinds Team will work with you to decide the best approach, based on your finances, competition, neighborhood and unique positioning of the listing you’re bidding on. With that in mind, here are some elements of the offer process to consider.

  • Initial offer amount (are you offering above the asking price?)
  • Earnest money
  • Escalator clause
  • Closing date
  • Contingencies
  • Pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender
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GOING UNDER CONTRACT

If your offer is accepted, the Hinds Team will do their due diligence to ensure the terms of the sale are executed. They will create a timeline of important dates to keep in mind during the transaction period.

Examples of next steps include:

  • Deposit your earnest money into escrow
  • If obtaining financing, the Hinds Team will send the mutual contract to your lender so they can get started on your file and order the appraisal.
  • Execute any contingencies (inspection, appraisal, title, etc.)
  • Any further negotiations between the buyer and seller
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INSPECTION AND NEGOTIATION

Your interests will be represented and protected as the Hinds Team works out any contingencies with the seller’s broker.

  • Broker Presence at Inspection
  • Vendor Bids and Project Valuation
  • Negotiation with Selling Broker
  • Scheduling Repairs and Walkthrough
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HOME APPRAISAL

Your lender will order an appraisal at the home. A home appraisal is a professional assessment of the value of a residential property. It is typically conducted by a certified appraiser who specializes in determining the fair market value of real estate. The primary purpose of a home appraisal is to provide an unbiased and expert opinion on how much a property is worth.

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FINAL WALKTHROUGH

Three to five days prior to closing day, the Hinds Team will perform a final walkthrough of the home to make sure all agreed upon repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as it was when the original offer was made. This serves as the last chance to highlight any issues discovered with the property before the closing.

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CLOSING

You won’t have to worry too much about the details, as the Hinds Team will shift into project management mode to make sure all the paperwork is completed on time.

  • After documents are signed and the sale is recorded with the county, the house is yours!
Success Stories

Testimonials

"The Hinds Team is a seasoned professional. Their level of knowledge and ability to handle any real estate problem with ease come from years of experience. The Hinds Team has deep roots in the Seattle community. They are responsive, timely, and honest. I would highly recommend them to buy or sell any property."
"The Hinds Team is a seasoned professional. Their level of knowledge and ability to handle any real estate problem with ease come from years of experience. The Hinds Team has deep roots in the Seattle community. They are responsive, timely, and honest. I would highly recommend them to buy or sell any property."
Buyer
"I have been working with the Hinds Team for the past twenty-five years, and I highly recommend them to all. They do an outstanding job of listening to exactly what you are looking for and spending countless hours researching neighborhoods, homes, and communities that will meet your criteria. They have an amazing instinct for how houses should be priced based upon amenities and location, and aren’t afraid to negotiate with an informed position. They have also done a fabulous job representing homes we wished to sell. Their abilities to help us get organized and put our best foot forward with a showing have yielded superior results. If you are looking for agents that are trustworthy, hardworking, and really know the market, they are the ones."
"I have been working with the Hinds Team for the past twenty-five years, and I highly recommend them to all. They do an outstanding job of listening to exactly what you are looking for and spending countless hours researching neighborhoods, homes, and communities that will meet your criteria. They have an amazing instinct for how houses should be priced based upon amenities and location, and aren’t afraid to negotiate with an informed position. They have also done a fabulous job representing homes we wished to sell. Their abilities to help us get organized and put our best foot forward with a showing have yielded superior results. If you are looking for agents that are trustworthy, hardworking, and really know the market, they are the ones."
Buyer & Seller
"In my opinion, based on two sales and two purchases, these are the best realtors in Seattle. Smart, knowledgeable, responsive, patient and diligent."
"In my opinion, based on two sales and two purchases, these are the best realtors in Seattle. Smart, knowledgeable, responsive, patient and diligent."
Buyer & Seller
"The Hinds Team made me feel completely comfortable, and I totally trust them when it comes to my real estate needs. I have worked with them on a number of projects, both large and small, and the connections they have with individuals throughout many industries, real estate-related or not, are truly what sets them apart from any other team I have worked with in the past."
"The Hinds Team made me feel completely comfortable, and I totally trust them when it comes to my real estate needs. I have worked with them on a number of projects, both large and small, and the connections they have with individuals throughout many industries, real estate-related or not, are truly what sets them apart from any other team I have worked with in the past."
Buyer & Seller
"The Hinds Team is really more than just realtors. They have always been guides for our family. They did more than help us find a house. They walked us through every part of the puzzle, including always advocating for our needs and looking out for our best interests. They are so trusted by us that our entire extended family trusts their advice and has insisted on using their services as well. You won’t look for another real estate team again."
"The Hinds Team is really more than just realtors. They have always been guides for our family. They did more than help us find a house. They walked us through every part of the puzzle, including always advocating for our needs and looking out for our best interests. They are so trusted by us that our entire extended family trusts their advice and has insisted on using their services as well. You won’t look for another real estate team again."
Buyer
"The Hinds Team is exceptionally knowledgeable, trustworthy, and professional. They bring such a great personality to the home-buying experience and make the process as stress-free as possible. I have recommended them to all my friends and family looking to buy a home. As a first-time home buyer, I felt completely at ease with the team. They were so patient in answering all my questions and explaining every process in great detail. I knew they always had my best interests in mind, and they found me the perfect home! I highly recommend working with the Hinds Team if you have the opportunity!"
"The Hinds Team is exceptionally knowledgeable, trustworthy, and professional. They bring such a great personality to the home-buying experience and make the process as stress-free as possible. I have recommended them to all my friends and family looking to buy a home. As a first-time home buyer, I felt completely at ease with the team. They were so patient in answering all my questions and explaining every process in great detail. I knew they always had my best interests in mind, and they found me the perfect home! I highly recommend working with the Hinds Team if you have the opportunity!"
Buyer
"I’ve been buying and selling real estate since 1970, and the Hinds Team is in a class of its own. As superlative realtors, they are true professionals. They are highly skilled and know how to deal with every aspect of buying and selling real estate. I totally trust their judgment, and they put their heart and soul into every transaction. Bonus, they are a pure delight to work with."
"I’ve been buying and selling real estate since 1970, and the Hinds Team is in a class of its own. As superlative realtors, they are true professionals. They are highly skilled and know how to deal with every aspect of buying and selling real estate. I totally trust their judgment, and they put their heart and soul into every transaction. Bonus, they are a pure delight to work with."
Buyer & Seller
"I have worked with Kathryn and the Hinds Team for many years. They have always been amazing! Kathryn has been a rock for me with each sale and purchase over the past thirty years, and I can’t think of another realtor who comes close to her and the rest of the Hinds Team. When I purchased my home in Rancho Mirage, they were even there to help guide me through the process. The Hinds Team cares about you and your success, which is rare in today’s market. I also consider them wonderful friends!"
"I have worked with Kathryn and the Hinds Team for many years. They have always been amazing! Kathryn has been a rock for me with each sale and purchase over the past thirty years, and I can’t think of another realtor who comes close to her and the rest of the Hinds Team. When I purchased my home in Rancho Mirage, they were even there to help guide me through the process. The Hinds Team cares about you and your success, which is rare in today’s market. I also consider them wonderful friends!"
Buyer & Seller
"The Hinds Team has helped us with both a sale and a purchase, and both times were a fantastic experience. They clearly know the business inside and out, and certainly put in the time and effort needed to make things work out. I look forward to working with them again in the future!"
"The Hinds Team has helped us with both a sale and a purchase, and both times were a fantastic experience. They clearly know the business inside and out, and certainly put in the time and effort needed to make things work out. I look forward to working with them again in the future!"
Buyer & Seller
"So many good things to say about the Hinds Team, as we had the opportunity to use them for both our buyers' and sellers' agents. After several failed attempts at purchasing our first home with different agents (we put in over eight offers), my close friend recommended the Hinds Team. We found a pre-foreclosure that we wanted, but felt it was going to be a shot in the dark. Nevertheless, the Hinds Team was able to get us our house at an incredible price with no contingencies waived, and we even beat out other cash offers! Being a foreclosure, the house came with significant strings attached, and I can confidently say it would not have been possible without the Hinds Team. They held our hand through the entire process and put out so many fires along the way. They are extremely good at negotiating terms and only getting deals that make the most sense for her customers. If something seems off, the team will raise a red flag and figure out ways to troubleshoot. On the flip side, we had the pleasure of using the Hinds Team to sell our condo in Kirkland, and wow were we more than impressed! The Hinds Team did an incredible job preparing and listing our little condo, so well in fact that we had several cash offers in hand before our open house even happened! The Hinds Team set a price record for our complex and completely blew our expectations away. We were able to close faster than we thought was possible, and got significantly more money than we thought we would. We had so many variables we had to navigate strategically, and the Hinds Team made all of it seem like a walk in the park. They were so responsive and always one step ahead. I can confidently say that we will be using them for every future purchase or sale down the road."
"So many good things to say about the Hinds Team, as we had the opportunity to use them for both our buyers' and sellers' agents. After several failed attempts at purchasing our first home with different agents (we put in over eight offers), my close friend recommended the Hinds Team. We found a pre-foreclosure that we wanted, but felt it was going to be a shot in the dark. Nevertheless, the Hinds Team was able to get us our house at an incredible price with no contingencies waived, and we even beat out other cash offers! Being a foreclosure, the house came with significant strings attached, and I can confidently say it would not have been possible without the Hinds Team. They held our hand through the entire process and put out so many fires along the way. They are extremely good at negotiating terms and only getting deals that make the most sense for her customers. If something seems off, the team will raise a red flag and figure out ways to troubleshoot. On the flip side, we had the pleasure of using the Hinds Team to sell our condo in Kirkland, and wow were we more than impressed! The Hinds Team did an incredible job preparing and listing our little condo, so well in fact that we had several cash offers in hand before our open house even happened! The Hinds Team set a price record for our complex and completely blew our expectations away. We were able to close faster than we thought was possible, and got significantly more money than we thought we would. We had so many variables we had to navigate strategically, and the Hinds Team made all of it seem like a walk in the park. They were so responsive and always one step ahead. I can confidently say that we will be using them for every future purchase or sale down the road."
Buyer & Seller
"All I can say is wow! We had the best experience with the Hinds Team. They are very knowledgeable, professional, and excellent at customer service. They anticipated our questions/potential issues and resolved issues almost before there was an issue! They were totally on top of complex processes and schedules and provided outstanding information on how to incorporate our “trust documents’’ in the sales process. I have already shared with friends the great experience we had with the Hinds team. They have our outstanding recommendation, and we are most grateful for their help. Overall, excellent for such a positive experience with the team. Many thanks."
"All I can say is wow! We had the best experience with the Hinds Team. They are very knowledgeable, professional, and excellent at customer service. They anticipated our questions/potential issues and resolved issues almost before there was an issue! They were totally on top of complex processes and schedules and provided outstanding information on how to incorporate our “trust documents’’ in the sales process. I have already shared with friends the great experience we had with the Hinds team. They have our outstanding recommendation, and we are most grateful for their help. Overall, excellent for such a positive experience with the team. Many thanks."
Buyer & Seller

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