Christopher Braxtan on buying and selling real estate in Seattle
When Seattle real estate agent Christopher Braxtan purchased and moved into the home across the street from mine last year, I knew I was going to like him before we even said hello. I knew this because he has the same bumper sticker on his car as I have on mine–a little white oval that reads simply: BRC. (If you don’t know what that means, here’s a hint.)
Christopher has worked in real estate in Seattle for 10 years, and has been a licensed Realtor since 1999. So he’s a great person to ask about buying or selling property in this town. And one of the things I’d like to know is: How have Internet services like Craigslist affected buying and selling a home? Let’s find out more about Christopher, and see what he’s got to say about that…
Q: Where are you from, and how’d you end up here in Seattle?
I’m from Minneapolis by way of Sarasota, FL. Minneapolis is a beautiful city; it’s similar to Seattle in many ways, but it’s smaller, colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. I spent a few years in my early twenties living on a beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I spent most of my time there going to school, organizing events for my school’s environmental activist group, writing and performing spoken word and generally enjoying myself. It was a great life while it lasted! I also lived outside of Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho and Randolph, Utah when I was 14 and 15.
I ran out of things to do in Florida, I had a friend in Seattle and I missed the mountains and living in a city, so I moved out here. Now I can’t imagine being based anywhere else in the US.
Q: How did you get interested in selling real estate? How long have you been doing it?
I was broke when I moved here in 1996. I found a job managing a small apartment building on Capitol Hill so I wouldn’t have to worry about writing a rent check or adapting my lifestyle to a regular schedule. That got boring real quick because the work was unfulfilling and I still wasn’t making enough money, so I started to diversify by providing more services related to property management. By 1999 I owned and operated a small apartment renovation business and was managing more than 140 rental units. The next step forward seemed obvious to me; I earned a license and started selling real estate. The first office where I hung my license was The Landmark Group in Madison Park.
Q: Why are real estate agents like yourself necessary? Can’t I just go online and find the house I want to buy?
As a buyer, you don’t have anything to lose by hiring a real estate agent and you have a lot to gain. Even though the buyer’s agent is legally and ethically bound to represent the buyer, in Washington State buyer’s agents are usually paid by the seller. Some people find a bit of success looking on Craig’s List, searching real estate websites, reading classified ads and attending public open houses in their quest for a home, but only real estate agents have access to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is where 99% of homes for sale are listed. And only your agent can get physical access to most of the homes that are listed for sale.
Every homebuyer should hire a structural and pest inspector so they aren’t surprised by physical defects after purchasing their home, but your real estate agent is trained in detecting design obsolescence and other flaws that are not brought to light by a structural or pest inspection. Perhaps more importantly, your agent’s knowledge of zoning regulations and building codes allows her or him to quickly determine if your intended use is well suited for a particular property.
While you could hire an attorney to provide advice on your purchase and sale contract, your real estate agent specializes in negotiating contracts for the purchase and sale of real property. This service is central to what we do for you. There are a lot of sharks out there, and you need an expert to help negotiate the repair of flaws found during inspections, closing dates and escrow money. Buyers and sellers also benefit from an experienced professional’s market familiarity when evaluating the fair market value of property for sale.
Your real estate agent will also work with your escrow agent and the title insurance agent to navigate the terms and conditions of your transaction and solve the unexpected problems that frequently arise. Experienced agents also have relationships with lenders. When you consider that mortgage lenders are not required to be licensed and have minimal oversight in our state, it’s clear that referrals from your agent can be invaluable.
For people selling real estate, it is counter-productive and dangerous to act without an agent. A particular home seller might be more than capable of pricing their home, creating and managing an effective marketing plan, preparing their home for sale, negotiating a purchase and sale agreement and handling routine escrow and title issues, but it takes time, knowledge and experience to do these things effectively. It can be especially difficult for an unrepresented seller (or buyer) when unexpected complications arise during a transaction. Many people are also capable of preparing their own taxes, but they lack the experience and knowledge of an accountant or a tax attorney, and their time is better spent on other pursuits.
Craig’s List and the Sunday newspaper are great places to advertise a home for sale (I’ve used them myself), but the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provides much greater exposure for your home for sale and only your agent can list homes there. A few days ago I spoke with someone who is selling his home without an agent. He was very pleased because he had received 30 inquiries regarding his home and had shown it to six prospective buyers in the first week it was listed on Craig’s List. When similar homes are listed on the MLS and an MLS key box is installed, they frequently receive hundreds of inquiries and multiple showings on the very first day that they’re listed. You want to receive the best price for your home, so you want as many buyers as possible to see it.
Your agent will also ensure that you are in compliance with fair housing laws, which can be trickier than most people think. It is not uncommon for socially conscious and well-intentioned people to accidentally violate fair housing laws. Your listing agent also has the experience and market knowledge necessary to help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers.
Perhaps most importantly, a talented and experienced agent will negotiate the best possible terms for your sale and spearhead the resolution of any issues that arise out of a buyer’s home inspection, title insurance, escrow or any of the terms and conditions of the transaction.
I’d also like to point out that buyer’s and seller’s agents have an intimate knowledge of how our real estate market functions, and this specialized knowledge is essential for making your transaction go smoothly, close on time and be as profitable for you as possible.
Q: What sets your real estate business apart from others?
Quality of service and added value. I limit the number of clients I work with at any one time to ensure that everyone who hires me receives a level of service that surpasses industry standards; nobody works harder to satisfy their people than I do. I also employ a team of specialists to assist with coordinating transactions, manage marketing programs, prepare homes for sale, and provide legal consultation. I shoulder the entire cost of using these specialists so I can ensure the best possible experience for my clients. And unlike many other agents who use a support staff, I am always accessible through email or my cell phone. Other unique services available to my clients include complimentary financial planning services, complimentary interior design services, complimentary moving truck rentals and complimentary home warranties.
I strongly believe in giving back to our community and supporting positive social change. I have a standing offer to all my future clients: hire me to help you buy or sell a home and I will contribute a significant portion of my commission to a not-for-profit organization that we choose together. The contribution can be made anonymously or in your name, and it does not need to be a tax-deductible contribution.
Q: Any great anecdotes or crazy stories from your years of selling
real estate?
Well, there is a house on 7th Ave NW in Greenwood that a young couple purchased as their first home together. It was a very nice house that had been rented out by the seller. One of the last tenants kept a boa constrictor as a pet, and the pet escaped on moving day. Nobody could find the beloved snake and it was assumed that it had slithered off into the neighborhood, so the seller decided not to mention it to his agent or the buyers.
Approximately 10 days after moving in, the young couple awoke to a loud bump in the night. They followed the sound to the finished basement, where they saw that a tile from the drop-ceiling had fallen into a sink. One of them stood on the counter near the sink and shined a flashlight into the void above the ceiling, where they were terribly shocked to encounter a three-foot-long serpent, coiled in repose, flicking its tongue at them. An exterminator was hired the following day to evict the stubborn reptilian tenant (who survived), and the buyers’ agent ensured that the seller paid the cost of the eviction.
Q: What’s the value of a group like Biznik to you?
Community is important, and working with people that I have an affinity for is a pleasure. Among other real estate agents, my ethics and personal goals are unique and my standards for success are exceptionally high. Bizniks also tend to be unique and successful people. With Biznik, I see a potential for making business in Seattle more productive for a broader range of people, and I see the possibility of doing business with more people who share my worldview. Through Biznik I can assist kind and conscious people in using their homes to achieve financial goals and gain personal autonomy, and Bizniks can help me affect positive social change through my real estate practice. And I have a hell of a lot of fun at the meetings.
Christopher Braxtan’s website is BraxtanRE.com.
