HOW IT WORKS

OK, you have come through the daydreaming and fantasizing stage, and now you are ready to do some serious looking.  You have narrowed your search down to the North Idaho Panhandle (good choice!) and you want to see the properties that are available for your “wish list”.    So here is a brief explanation of how the real estate business works:

We Cover The World.  Any licensed agent belonging to the Multiple Listing Service can sell any MLS listing.  RiverStone has access to every listing in the Multiple Listing Service.  This covers from the Canadian border to south of Sandpoint halfway to Coeur d’Alene.  (some of our agents are very familiar with Coeur d’Alene and can help you there too!).  We also have agents licensed to sell in the state of Montana.   Our website carries all the listings in the MLS, the information is super-fresh, it is updated every half hour.  It doesn’t matter whose name or which agency is on the sign: we can show it and sell it! 

Buyers Rep / Sellers Rep :  we provide representation for both sides of the transaction.  When we act on behalf of the Buyer, we strive to get you the best deal, with no surprises.  When we act for the Seller, we promise to get you the best price in the shortest time to marketing.  In either case, we promise to represent your interests fairly and honestly, and to make the entire experience as smooth as possible.

“Client” vs. “Customer”   At the first substantial discussion between us, be this by way of email correspondence, a phone call, or a walk-in visit, we will provide you with a brief brochure that describes the responsibilities we have to you.  This relationship is called an agency agreement.  Our hope is that you become a client (a defined term) of the firm. This status generates a multitude of services and obligations on our part in representing your interests.  We then formalize the relationship with either a Buyer’s Representation or a Seller’s Representation document, and the search for your dream property begins!  Formalizing the relationship does not “trap” you in any way—we tie it to a specific time frame, and we have an incredible track record of fulfilling our clients’ expectations. Our goal is to have you tell your friends about us!

Financing    We highly recommend that you speak with your bank before you begin your search.  Or, we would be pleased to suggest lenders we have established relationships with here.  Your search is more efficient when you know your price parameters, and it makes your eventual offer much more credible if the financing contingency is pre-resolved.

The Process    Although we have sold properties within a day of the client’s looking, it is normal for the search to take weeks, and even months.  We know the market intimately, and we are able to react very quickly.  We won’t waste your time showing you properties that do not have a “fit” for you.  We will bring to your attention, however, all the properties that fall within your criteria range, and as you and us together review these, we will sharpen the focus, eventually selecting only those properties that truly fit the bill.