Buyers begin the process of buying a home by looking at ads in the paper or on the internet or in the color magazines. They often visit open houses. Eventually they are impressed with an agent and request information from that agent. When they find the house they want to buy, buyers ask an agent for a suggestion on what to offer. Most sellers begin the process of selling a home by talking to friends and neighbors about the real estate market and by asking agents for estimates of value.
Some sellers even look at the ads or go to open houses to check out the competition.
And when they get an offer, they may want their agent to suggest an appropriate response to the offer price. Yes, the most critical element is information. Buyers and sellers know they need information to make good decisions. Even inexperienced buyers and sellers know that. Jodie and Mike were having financial problems and could no longer afford their mortgage payments.