WE ARE LILAC LISTINGS
Lilac Listings at RE/MAX Whatcom County was created by Rachael and Laura in 2021. The "lilac" symbolizes happiness, tranquility, confidence, and wisdom. We chose this flower to best represent our team, our mission, & our values within our work.
Providing our buyers & sellers with a positive real estate experience is our #1 priority. We value the trust you place in us and we pledge to provide you with guidance, and wisdom while helping you achieve your real estate goals.
Our strategies, systems, and communication skills set us apart as we collaborate to maximize the results for our clients. As educators, we strive to help you understand each step of the buying or selling process and are proud to be recognized as trusted leaders in our industry.
We are a dynamic team with over 26 years of experience in Real Estate in Whatcom County. We operate at a high level of confidence, competence and consistency while building genuine relationships with our clients.
At the end of the day, we are more than just Realtors. We are active members of our community, we are mothers, wives, and friends. We look forward to helping you reach your goals and being your Community Real Estate Resource.
-Rachael,
Tessa, & Laura
MEET RACHAEL
RachaelWilson ManagingBroker
References:
Justin Oden (360) 815-2009
Teresa Singson (360) 820-3054
Pat Crouch (512) 587-3207
Derek & Jamie Martin (360) 223-5284
Steph & Trevor Siden (360) 389-0686
Raised in Whatcom County as a Contractor’s daughter and Rachael was able to gain insight into real estate from a very young age. Living in almost every corner of this community, she is proud to have the opportunity to raise her children here. Her family is dedicated to giving back to the community, being involved, and supporting its growth. When not working, Rachael is with her family skiing, paddle boarding, fishing, golfing, entertaining, or watching her children play soccer. She also served on the board for Skookum Kids and for 10 years she chaired the Education Committee for the Whatcom County Association of Realtors
Rachael is ready to meet you where your Real Estate needs are Whether you are an avid investor, first-time homebuyer, or seasoned homeowner, she looks forward to assisting in your real estate goals Her mission is to educate you and provide unparalleled concierge-style service every step of the way She works to provide a high level of service and anticipation to ensure the best overall experience for you Building a custom strategy with our proven systems that will meet your needs and achieve your goals is why she loves what she does. She has the tenacity to get things done and is willing to get creative to reach a client’s goals.
As your Real Estate adviser, you will find that Rachael is intentional about suggested strategies and confident, competent, and consistent. She provides efficient communication as a part of her overall systems and strategies. She works collaboratively with all brokers, leading with integrity and trust no matter how difficult the situation may be.
Rachael is passionate about teaching and educating both clients and brokers on all aspects of real estate. She understands the importance of continuing education in the ever-changing world of real estate and that education is the engine behind all that we do and value. With over 17 years of experience in the real estate industry and a lifetime of knowledge in home construction, she looks forward to sharing her expertise with you
MEET TESSA
TessaJarvis Broker
CRS,ABR,MCNE,AHWD,PSA&HSE RE/MAXWhatcomCounty
References:
Emma Fisher (253) 778-0977
Crissy Kearns (360) 941-2104
Michael Dormer (425) 215-1111
Tessa was taught early on the value of owning real estate and she’s built her entire real estate investment portfolio around that idea As a “mom & pop” investor, she understands firsthand the importance of every dollar invested into your home. Financially, she’s seen the difference that owning real estate has made in her life, and it’s her goal to help achieve those same results Leveraging her keenly trained eye and contractor network, Tessa ensures your property reaches its maximum potential before hitting the market. By utilizing her personal investing experience in parallel with the work she does on a daily, Tessa brings dynamic insights to her client’s real estate experience.
Tessa began her real estate career as a property manager, where she learned the value of home maintenance and strong communication Working with owners to help them maintain their rentals meant working to protect the value of their investments, all while keeping the waters calm between tenants & owners From there, she transitioned to the fastpaced role of supporting a top broker. Working as his assistant and buyer agent, she learned all the nitty gritty fundamentals of navigating the real estate market while maintaining superb client care Now as a solo broker, Tessa has found her place to thrive At RE/MAX, with a culture focused on growth and education, Tessa has found a brokerage that nurtures her drive for excellence. With frequent training, collaboration amongst top brokers, and continued educational opportunities, Tessa has found unparalleled support in her pursuit of excellence in all that she does.
When you work with Tessa, you'll receive clear and concise communication, professional guidance & expert negotiations As your dedicated agent, she’ll advocate on your behalf and seamlessly guide you from pre-contract through closing. Tessa’s commitment to cultivating lifelong relationships with her clients ensures that you always have a trusted resource in your real estate endeavors, and you’ll see that reflected in the service she delivers.
In her next life, Tessa guesses she’ll come back as an independent customer service consultant. She is often noticing (to her husband's chagrin) ways that businesses can improve their efficiency while at the same time, creating a more seamless and enjoyable customer experience She brings that passion to her real estate career, by frequently refining her systems & processes to elevate her client experience. Her goal is to anticipate any areas of stress throughout the process and to have a system in place to alleviate that stress
When it’s time to play, you’ll find Tessa chasing deep powder days at Mt. Baker and often squeezing in a few overnights in her RV, training her dog Tito, trying out a new recipe, or relaxing in the sun on her deck If she’s not doing any of those, you’ll find her in the fixtures aisle at Home Depot, picking out the next updates for her latest renovation project with her husband Kinsey
MEET LAURA
aura partnered with Rachael Wilson at RE/MAX in January 2018 and 2021 ey created Lilac Listings at RE/MAX Whatcom County together. Laura is Global Referral Specialist with Global Referral Group LLC where she can ilize her connection and relationships with other Brokers to help connect er clients with the best Realtors worldwide.
orn and raised in Whatcom County, Laura has witnessed the tremendous mount of change and growth that has transformed the Bellingham area to one of the most sought-after destinations in the Pacific Northwest. he is passionate about the place she calls home and being involved in verything that improves her community or fosters genuine relationships ith others. Laura’s vast knowledge of neighborhoods, school districts, and cal communities is key when helping clients find a special home in the cation that best fits their desires She enjoys educating newcomers and haring about her favorite trails, parks, restaurants, and best places to xplore
aura is very active and connected in the local community as a result of orking for years in the Ferndale School District, at Bellingham Technical ollege, and in Social Services with seniors She sits on the Board for erndale Dollars for Scholars and is a mentor with the Be The One Program the Ferndale School District. She also volunteers regularly within her ometown of Ferndale, as well as supporting local non-profits that benefit omen and children.
When Laura’s not touring properties, she is outdoors exploring trails with her husband and dog Lily, visiting her children at college, trying out new local restaurants with her friends, or planning the next travel adventure.
References:
Seana Olberg (360) 820-8375
Becky Farrar (360) 220-2328
Toby Ledgerwood (360) 815-1967
Heather & Joe Akers (360) 305-0876
Michele & Rick Smith (360) 305-2266
LauraRehberger Broker
OUR TEAM
Macy Chillingworth | Office & Marketing Manager
Macy joined Lilac Listings in 2025, bringing with her an extensive background in customer service, marketing, and real estate (she’s had her real estate license since 2016, and previously worked on a real estate team!). She provides critical support to our agents, ensuring operations run smoothly, files stay organized, and details are accurate. Macy also expertly markets our listings, manages our social media presence, helps with coordinating client appreciation events, publishes engaging newsletters, and occasionally handles the Matterport! With a keen attention to detail, an eye for good aesthetics, and a people-focused spirit, Macy enjoys her role as Marketing/Office Manager.
Transaction Coordinator
our home goes under contract, Erica steps into the process as to-Closing coordinator. Her job on the team is to coordinate es, contingencies, and all of the parties to the contract to thing slips through the cracks and to avoid any surprises.
RECOMMENDED LENDERS
We partner with a number of lenders to present buyers with the easiest and best options or purchasing your home Getting your home pre-qualified for a stress-free sale is our goal! Our team of lenders is experienced in navigating both the purchase of homes and your financial investments beyond They are an asset of knowledge and guidance for both buyers and sellers
Marcie
Clients Say it Best
First-Rate Realtors
Highly Recommended
"It's with great pleasure that I write this review for Rachael. She is the most unique agent I have ever run across The sale of my rental house in Bellingham began in September, 2020 when I decided I wanted to sell Rachael was recommended to me by a highly respected real estate broker in Anacortes. From the very first moment I spoke with Rachael I knew she would do a good job for me. However, I could never have known then how really, really great she would be. All of the stars I gave her here could never express the personal care and white glove treatment I received. She behaved as though it was her house she was selling I put all my trust in her and she never failed me in the 5 months it took to ready my house for listing"
02/12/2021 - Dan A | Sold investment property in Bellingham, WA
A Stand Out Agent
“From day one Tessa had a plan and stuck to it. As an absentee sellers, Tessa was instrumental in getting our house on the market and selling quickly She has a good relationship with a local contractor who made himself available on many occasions to get the house in order Her professional photo shoot with the house was able to capture the house in the best possible light It was truly great to find someone who cared about their work ”
April 2020 - Quinton Wineger | Sold in Burlington, WA
"Laura, Racheal, and the Lilac Listings team sold my home in Ferndale, WA recently From the first communication, through the presentation of what would be done to prepare, list, and sell my house, it was clear this is a first rate group of people All of their advice was spot on, and staging the house made such a difference Communication was constant and just right, updates as needed as quickly as the information developed. A joy to work with them all, highly recommended!"
08/21/2022 - James H. | Sold home in Ferndale, WA
Exceptional Broker & Team
“Rachael and Laura are truly one of a kind. These two professionals came to the rescue when I needed to sell my parent's home of 22+ years. My parents never throw out anything, so you can imagine the amount of work and contacts it took to get this property for sale The contacts that Rachel and Laura have are wonderful people to work with Just what I needed being 100 miles away and trying to get my house ready for sale too Need good communication and action? I can't speak higher of the personal touch these gals have Big thumbs up, Thank you Both!
02/10/2021 - Jannell H | Sold in Custer, WA
6 CRITICAL FACTORS TO SUCCESSFULLY SELLING YOUR HOME
1. Your Home’s Condition
Curb-appeal and first impressions mean a lot as buying a home is an emotional decision. We’ll provide you with a recommended “To-do” list of projects you should tackle before we list it and will connect you with contractors to help if needed. Helping prepare your home to sell and listing it to sell when it’s in the best possible condition will maximize your profits.
2. Terms & Financing Available
What kind of financing is available for your property? Where are interest rates? Does your property qualify for FHA & VA buyers?
We partner with a lender to provide a financial breakdown of rates and terms for potential buyers.
3. Location
We’ll highlight and market to the lifestyle of your home’s neighborhood and location. (Nearby parks, trails, etc.)
Evaluating neighborhood sold/active/pending properties will help us guage the potential interest in your community and develop a custom marketing plan
4. Market Conditions
We’ll continually analyze the current market conditions, evaluate local housing stats, and will update you on a regular basis in order to best position your home in the current market.
5. Broker Marketing
We’ll develop a custom marketing strategy for your home which will include professional photos/videos, staging, online and print marketing. Networking with other RE/MAX Brokers and Whatcom County Realtors from other Brokerages are always a part of our stragy
6. Pricing
We always strive to maximize your profits. We’ll provide you with our professional opinion on pricing and help you achieve the highest value possible in the shortest time period. We work with you to achieve your goals!
PREPARING YOUR HOME TO SELL
Our team will work with you to ensure your home is in the best condition possible to showcase its finest features and help it appeal to a variety of buyers. The first impression for a home buyer sets the stage for how they feel, so it's imperative that your home looks its best before it goes live on the MLS.
Pictured: Rachael using the Matterport to create a virtual 3-D tour of a home
Home Staging
Your Home's Condition
It's not just about finding a buyer- we help prepare your home for the inspection and negotiations that take place. We have contractors, handy men, house cleaners, landscapers, and just about anyone else we might need to get your home prepared for the market Let's set the stage for the buyers!
Little Things Mean A Lot
A deep clean is worth its weight in gold Make sure your house looks and smells "clean" to potential buyers when they walk in the door. Even if you clean your home regularly, we strongly recommend hiring a cleaning service for a thorough top-to-bottom scrubbing, They will assist in ways that you may not have thought of or have had the time to handle, such as cleaning the windows and skylights, pressure washing driveways and walkways, etc.
Our professional staging services are available to you to help maximize the value of your home! According to ASP, 95% of staged homes sell within 11 days or less at 17% more than asking price on average We can help reposition your furnishings, provide our own staging items or connect you with a professional stager
Professional Photography /Videography
We work with professional photographers to capture pictures of your home looking its very best. They have their own equipment, expertise, and experience so you can feel comfortable leaving it all to the pros. We offer a variety of photography options and tailor them to showcase your home in its best light.
3-D Virtual Tours
Your prospective buyers will experience True 3-D Interactive Virtual Walkthroughs with Matterport We utilize this award-winning technology to create an interactive, virtual walk-through of your home that has been proven to generate more inquiries and better qualified leads for all of our listings
An example of the Floorplan view in a Matterport Virtual Tour
Pictured:
PREPARING YOUR HOME TO SELL
We highly recommend a pre-inspection prior to listing your home. A pre-inspection can help you identify any potential issues with your home that may need to be addressed before you put your home on the market. This can include things like safety issues, rodents, electrical problems, or plumbing leaks If you identify any issues during the pre-inspection, you can choose to either fix them or obtain bids for them All inspections will be disclosed to potential buyers By addressing these issues upfront, you may be able to save money on repair costs or avoid having to offer concessions during the buyer negotiations This process will expedite the sale, alleviate high stress during a buyer's home inspection and allow us to remain in control of negotiations with our buyer.
Inspections are the #1 reasons why deals fall apart after mutual agreement. NAR states that 25% of canceled contracts are from failed inspections.
Knowing these details prior to listing prevents any surprises during the negotiation process and allows the seller to maintain negotiation power when the home is listed and offers are received.
It is the #1 stress point during the Selling Process. By doing a pre-inspection we get to work through that prior to the listing excitement.
STRATEGIC MARKETING
Online Exposure
Our team is consistently developing and increasing our online presence With endless possibilities and instant mobile accessibility, the internet has become the most popular way for buyers to search for homes and has changed the way we conduct business. Your listing will be showcased on a variety of websites including LilacListings.com, REMAX.com, NWMLS, Redfin.com, Zillow.com, Realtor.com and more.
Lilac- Listings.com - Your Community Real Estate Resource
Our website caters personally to buyers, sellers, and agents worldwide. When your property is listed with us, it will be showcased the top of our listings page for a period of time. No registration is required to view our listings. All statistics are tracked for optimum insights into the listing's success. Social media posts will contain a link to your custom webpage listing at Lilac-listings.com where potential buyers can view photos, marketing remarks, videos and the 3D virtual tour. We encourage you to share this link on your own social media accounts when your home is listed.
REMAX.com - RE/MAX Mobile App
As the third most popular real estate engine, thousands of people worldwide start their real estate search at remax com The site and app both feature many helpful tools for buyers and sellers including tools to locate agents, offices, and properties around the world
As a trusted name in the industry and the leader in United States real estate sales, the average RE/MAX broker outsells the competition 2:1.
STRATEGIC MARKETING Advertising
Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)
The NWMLS, a search tool for real estate agents, contains every property currently on the market. To help contribute to your listing's appeal, we provide extra photos of the property as well as plat and aerial maps, when needed. They push out to everylocal broker website as well.
Zillow.com & Redfin.com
Zillow and Redfin are the most popular smartphone apps and websites for home searches. Your listing will be published on both sites. Zillow & Redfin include interactive map searches, and filters for buyers to easily search for a home that meets their needs. Please remember that Zillow may have a 24-48 hour delay when posting new listings or status updates. Redfin listings will also not appear on Zillow or other real estate websites, so we reccomend searching on Redfin for the most accurate and complete information.
These websites also provide convenient resources for buyers and sellers, including apps for searching homes and putting your property at buyers' fingertips Realtor.com & Homefinder.com
STRATEGIC MARKETING Social Media
Social media allows for instant engagement and communication with hundreds of people in our network including: buyers, brokers, industry professionals, and community members. This helps us to spread the word quickly and efficiently to a large volume of people about your listing. Our team will utilize digital marketing tools daily to target your buyers effectively and get your listing qualified prospects.
Facebook - Facebook Ads, Posts, & Open House Events
With custom listing photos and videos, we utilize Facebook's wide range of capabilities to reach large audiences quickly and effectively. Not only will your listing be featured on our Lilac Listings Facebook Business Page, but also on our team member's personal Facebook pages We also utilize strategic target marking to "boost" posts and advertise your property, so it is seen by a wider audience beyond just our "followers" The stories feature (small, impactful highlights visible for 24 hours), allows us to create additional engaging content with our online community which results in further exposure of your listing.
Instagram Insights - Instagram Posts, Stories, & Reels
Instagram's photo and video-based content formats make it easy to showcase properties It's mobile-focused nature incorporates location data and geo-targeting making it easier for us to advertise to prospective buyers in our preferred region Its user base now numbering more than 1 billion monthly active users enables us to use features such as hashtags to target niche interests, make a splash in popular real estate and home buying audiences, and its integration into parent company Facebook’s advertising platform provides sophisticated campaign targeting options. We use these resources to track our impact on these channels in terms of engagement, link clicks, shares, direct messages, and total "reach" or the total number of people who have seen your ad or content.
Google Business Page
When your property is listed with us, we will post all notable progress, social media efforts, updates, ads, and open house invitations making it the first thing your audience will see when they search for Lilac Listings. This is the first-impression of all search results for our business, and you will be the front cover model. Users easily navigate our business by viewing our most recent activity and reviews, while we can track views and clicks for each post.
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network on the internet. We utilize LinkedIn's powerful data to build out a localized network of potential clients and referral sources. As leaders and educators in our field, we have built a network of 1500+ of people ready to see your listing and collaborate with us in finding the right buyer for you LinkedIn
4,800+
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
Between our Lilac Listings Instagram & Facebook accounts, plus our personal accounts we have over 4,800 friends/followers. We market our listings throughout our accounts to give your listing maximum exposure
STRATEGIC MARKETING Digital Marketing Efforts
It is a pleasure for us to assist you with all steps of the process when selling your home We prioritize your time and take great care to ensure that your home gets the most visibility it possibly can For your listing, we create custom marketing materials for ads that engage with shoppers all over the web and create informative videos highlighting your property’s most distinguishing features Our social media posts highlight your listing and is shared to our Business Pages for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google Business Pages, LinkTree
Digital Marketing Through Social Media
Custom marketing materials are created for each listing specifically for our social media outlets Through Instagram and Facebook, we are able to boost these posts to create an ad for your property and expand the reach & views of your listing beyond our current friends/followers. We carefully track the performance and engagement of each ad; including how many "clicks" to your property's custom webpage receives and how many users either shared, viewed, or saved your listing.
Socail Media Ad Results
Custom Webpage for Your Listing
In addition to tracking our social media's ad performance, we create a custom webpage for your listing that includes all listing photos, property information, and a state-of-the-art 3D tour with our Matterport software A link to your property's custom webpage is included in all of our marketing materials and it will also be featured on our "LinkTree" Through our website and LinkTree, we are able to track the performance of our marketing efforts.
PRINT ADVERTISING
Flyers & Sign Installation
For each of our listings, a professional custom flyer is designed by our team. These flyers are prepared and completed prior to the listings going "live", and are posted at the property in a flyer box outside your home. Flyers are also emailed to interested buyers and provided to other brokers All flyers feature hand-edited pictures arranged to highlight the most valuable features of the property Our team is committed to installing a professional yard arm post, reflective sign and flyer box within the first 4 hours of the home being listed on the MLS In areas that don't have signage restrictions, we also will post professional directional signage to make your property easier to find For open houses we statically place our open house signs in high traffic areas to attract the most
PRINT ADVERTISING
The RE/MAX Luxury Collection
Sophistication Elegance Class The RE/MAX Collection offers all this and much more to affluent home buyers and sellers around the world This RE/MAX luxury home marketing program provides exclusive advertising incentives, specialized training and distinctive marketing tools to RE/MAX agents so they can better serve discerning clients like you. To qualify for inclusion in The RE/MAX Collection, homes must be at least double the average sold price in the zip code they are listed in.
BROKER NETWORKING
It is just as important for us to share the news about your property with other Brokers as with prospective buyers. Networking and sharing about your new listing with other Brokers at RE/MAX in addition to Brokers at other local brokerage firms results in maximum exposure for our clients. Each week we participate in a variety of networking groups where we share about our new listings.
Whatcom County Real Estate HUB
This is a Facebook forum exclusively for real estate agents in Whatcom and Skagit County across all Brokerages. Participating Brokers share their super unique properties, network unique buyer needs, and discuss relevant local real estate news as well as best practices, vendor recommendations and more.
Virtual Tours & RE/MAX Networking
RE/MAX Whatcom County Brokers meet bi-weekly in person to share information about new listings and discuss specific buyer needs Virtual Tours of new listings are also showcased during in-person meetings
Premier Networking Group
Comprised of top-producing Realtors networking with each other on behalf of their clients, these meetings are held twice a week. We collectively pitch our listings and share winning strategies and valuable resources to get your home sold. All of our members' success benefits you.
YOUR COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE RESOURCE
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
We are deeply committed to giving back to our community and supporting those in need. As proud residents of Whatcom County, we understand the importance of local non-profit organizations and the positive impact they have on our community's future.
Our team volunteers and supports a variety of local non-profits, however, we have created the Pay it Forward Project to make a greater impact on four very important organizations (Skookum Kids, Lydia Place, Growing Veterans, or Animals as Natural Therapy) that are near and dear to us. For every home that we sell, we will donate 1% of our compensations to one of thesenon-profit organizations. Following the closing of each sale we allow our clients to select one of these four organizations and we make a direct donation on behalf of our clients.
Our goal is not only to provide additional funds to these deserving causes but also to raise awareness of their vital work in our community. In 2023 we were able to raise $10,600 for these deserving organizations.
CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITAL
Our team members are all Miracle Agents through the RE/MAX Miracle Home & Miracle Property Program that benefits Seattle Children's Hospital. Collectively RE/MAX has donated over 186 million dollars to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and is celebrating 30 years of partnership Each home sold by the Lilac Listings team is considered a Miracle Home A donation is made in honor of our client to the Children's Miracle Networks Hospitals, and those funds stay in our community going directly to Seattle Children's Hospital.
LILAC LISTINGS IS HONORED AND DEVOTED TO SUPPORTING THESE ADDITIONAL NON-PROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
CODE OF ETHICS
The REALTOR'S PLEDGE OF PERFORMANCE & SERVICE
(We can provide the full Code of Ethics for review upon request)
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS© adopted the Code of Ethics in 1913, following the professions of medicine, law, and engineering. REALTORS® are real estate professionals who have chosen to join the National Association and abide by its strict Code of Ethics This means that any REALTOR® with whom you work has voluntarily agreed to abide by a Code of Ethics, based on professionalism and protection of the public REALTORS® are subject to disciplinary action and sanctions if they violate the duties imposed by the Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics is a detailed document that spells out the professional responsibilities of every REALTOR® Do not hesitate to ask a REALTOR® for a copy of the Code, including the Standards of Practice. The Code is your assurance of dealing with a professional who has your best interests in mind.
The Code of Ethics consists of seventeen Articles and related Standards of Practice The basic principles of the Code are summarized below
Please note that the following is not a substitute for the Code, but simply a general overview of the Code’s key principles. For additional information about the Code of Ethics and its enforcement, speak with a REALTOR® or contact the local association of REALTORS® nearest you
DUTIESTOCLIENTS&CUSTOMERS
Article1-REALTORS®protectandpromotetheirclients’interestswhiletreatingallpartieshonestly
Article2-REALTORS®refrainfromexaggeration,mis-representation,orconcealmentofpertinentfactsrelatedtopropertyortransactions
Article3-REALTORS®cooperatewithotherrealestateprofessionalstoadvancetheirclients’bestinterests
Article4-Whenbuyingorsellingontheirownaccountorfortheirfamiliesorfirms,REALTORS®maketheirtruepositionorinterestknown.
Article5-REALTORS®donotprovideprofessionalserviceswheretheyhaveanypresentorcontemplatedinterestinpropertywithout disclosingthatinteresttoallaffectedparties
Article6-REALTORS®discloseanyfeeorfinancialbenefittheymayreceivefromrecommend-ingrelatedrealestateproductsorservices.
Article7-REALTORS®receivecompensationfromonlyoneparty,exceptwheretheymakefulldisclosureandreceiveinformedconsentfrom theirclient
Article8-REALTORS®keepentrustedfundsofclientsandcustomersinaseparateescrowaccount
Article9-REALTORS®makesurethatcontractdetailsarespelledoutinwritingandthatpartiesreceivecopies
DUTIESTOTHEPUBLIC
Article10-REALTORS®giveequalprofessionalservicetoallclientsandcustomersirrespectiveofrace,color,religion,sex,handicap,familial status,ornationalorigin
Article11-REALTORS®areknowledgeableandcompetentinthefieldsofpracticeinwhichtheyengageortheygetassistancefroma knowledgeableprofessional,ordiscloseanylackofexpertisetotheirclient
Article12-REALTORS®paintatruepictureintheiradvertisingandinotherpublicrepresentations
Article13-REALTORS®donotengageintheunauthorizedpracticeoflaw.
Article14-REALTORS®willinglyparticipateinethicsinvestigationsandenforcementactions DutiestoREALTORS®
Article15-REALTORS®makeonlytruthful,objectivecommentsaboutotherrealestateprofessionals.
Article16-RespecttheexclusiverepresentationorexclusivebrokeragerelationshipagreementsthatotherREALTORS®havewiththeir clients
Article17-REALTORS®arbitratefinancialdisagreementswithotherREALTORS®andwiththeirclients
REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE IN WASHINGTON
Introduction
This pamphlet provides general information about real estate brokerage and summarizes the laws related to real estate brokerage relationships. It describes a real estate broker’s duties to the seller/landlord and buyer/tenant. Detailed and complete information about real estate brokerage relationships is available in chapter 18.86 RCW.
If you have any questions about the information in this pamphlet, contact your broker or the designated broker of your broker’s firm.
Licensing and Supervision of Brokers
To provide real estate brokerage services in Washington, a broker must be licensed under chapter 18.85 RCW and licensed with a real estate firm, which also must be licensed. Each real estate firm has a designated broker who is responsible for supervising the brokers licensed with the firm. Some firms may have branch offices that are supervised by a branch manager and some firms may delegate certain supervisory duties to one or more managing brokers.
The Washington State Department of Licensing is responsible for enforcing all laws and rules relating to the conduct of real estate firms and brokers.
Agency Relationship
In an agency relationship, a broker is referred to as an “agent” and the seller/landlord and buyer/tenant is referred to as the “principal.” For simplicity, in this pamphlet, seller includes landlord, and buyer includes tenant.
For Sellers
A real estate firm and broker must enter into a written services agreement with a seller to establish an agency relationship. The firm will then appoint one or more brokers to be agents of the seller. The firm’s designated broker and any managing broker responsible for the supervision of those brokers are also agents of the seller.
For Buyers
A real estate firm and broker(s) who perform real estate brokerage services for a buyer establish an agency relationship by performing those services The firm’s designated broker and any managing broker responsible for the supervision of that broker are also agents of the buyer A written services agreement between the buyer and the firm must be entered into before, or as soon as reasonably practical after, a broker begins rendering real estate brokerage services to the buyer.
For both Buyer and Seller - as a Limited Dual Agent
A limited dual agent provides limited representation to both the buyer and the seller in a transaction. Limited dual agency requires the consent of each principal in a written services agreement and may occur in two situations: (1) When the buyer and the seller are represented by the same broker, in which case the broker’s designated broker and any managing broker responsible for the supervision of that broker are also limited dual agents; and (2) when the buyer and the seller are represented by different brokers in the same firm, in which case each broker solely represents the principal the broker was appointed to represent, but the broker’s designated broker and any managing broker responsible for the supervision of those brokers are limited dual agents
Duration of Agency Relationship
Once established, an agency relationship continues until the earliest of the following:
1 Completion of performance by the broker;
2 Expiration of the term agreed upon by the parties;
3. Termination of the relationship by mutual agreement of the parties; or
4. Termination of the relationship by notice from either party to the other. However, such a termination does not affect the contractual rights of either party.
Written Services Agreement
A written services agreement between the firm and principal must contain the following:
1. The term (duration) of the agreement;
2 Name of the broker(s) appointed to act as an agent for the principal;
3. Whether the agency relationship is exclusive (which does not allow the principal to enter into an agency relationship with another firm during the term) or nonexclusive (which allows the principal to enter into an agency relationship with multiple firms at the same time);
4. Whether the principal consents to limited dual agency;
5. The terms of compensation;
6 In an agreement with a buyer, whether the broker agrees to show a property when there is no agreement or offer by any party or firm to pay compensation to the broker’s firm; and
7. Any other agreements between the parties.
A Broker’s Duties to All Parties
A broker owes the following duties to all parties in a transaction:
1 To exercise reasonable skill and care;
2. To deal honestly and in good faith;
3. To timely present all written offers, written notices, and other written communications to and from either party;
4. To disclose all existing material facts known by the broker and not apparent or readily ascertainable to a party. A material fact includes information that substantially adversely affects the value of the property or a party’s ability to perform its obligations in a transaction, or operates to materially impair or defeat the purpose of the transaction. However, a broker does not have any duty to investigate matters that the broker has not agreed to investigate;
5 To account in a timely manner for all money and property received from or on behalf of either party;
6 To provide this pamphlet to all parties to whom the broker renders real estate brokerage services and to any unrepresented party;
7. To disclose in writing who the broker represents; and
8. To disclose in writing any terms of compensation offered by a party or a real estate firm to a real estate firm representing another party.
A Broker’s Duties to the Buyer or Seller
A broker owes the following duties to their principal (either the buyer or seller):
1. To be loyal to their principal by taking no action that is adverse or detrimental to their principal’s interest in a transaction;
2. To timely disclose to their principal any conflicts of interest;
3. To advise their principal to seek expert advice on matters relating to the transaction that are beyond the broker’s expertise;
4. To not disclose any confidential information from or about their principal; and
5 To make a good faith and continuous effort to find a property for the buyer or to find a buyer for the seller’s property, until the principal has entered a contract for the purchase or sale of property or as agreed otherwise in writing
Limited Dual Agent Duties
A limited dual agent may not advocate terms favorable to one principal to the detriment of the other principal. A broker, acting as a limited dual agent, owes the following duties to both the buyer and seller:
1.To take no action that is adverse or detrimental to either principal’s interest in a transaction;
2.To timely disclose to both principals any conflicts of interest;
3.To advise both principals to seek expert advice on matters relating to the transaction that are beyond the limited dual agent’s expertise;
4.To not disclose any confidential information from or about either principal; and
5.To make a good faith and continuous effort to find a property for the buyer and to find a buyer for the seller’s property, until the principals have entered a contract for the purchase or sale of property or as agreed otherwise in writing.
In any real estate transaction, a firm’s compensation may be paid by the seller, the buyer, a third party, or by sharing the compensation between firms. To receive compensation from any party, a firm must have a written services agreement with the party the firm represents (or provide a “Compensation Disclosure” to the buyer in a transaction for commercial real estate).
A services agreement must contain the following regarding compensation:
1.The amount the principal agrees to compensate the firm for broker’s services as an agent or limited dual agent;
2.The principal’s consent, if any, and any terms of such consent, to compensation sharing between firms and parties; and
3.The principal’s consent, if any, and any terms of such consent, to compensation of the firm by more than one party.
Short Sales Compensation
A “short sale” is a transaction where the seller’s proceeds from the sale are insufficient to cover seller’s obligations at closing (e.g., the seller’s outstanding mortgage is greater than the sale price) If a sale is a short sale, the seller’s real estate firm must disclose to the seller that the decision by any beneficiary or mortgagee, to release its interest in the property for less than the amount the seller owes to allow the sale to proceed, does not automatically relieve the seller of the obligation to pay any debt or costs remaining at closing, including real estate firms’ compensation.
