Buying

Last updated 5.5.2025

For Buyers:

Before the Internet, hiring a real estate broker was essential to finding and purchasing a home, as agents had exclusive access to information about availability, location and pricing. 

But the Internet changed everything.

Today, buyers can easily search for homes online, view photos and videos, and gather a wealth of information. So, why do you need an agent? Because I take the time to understand your needs and preferences, providing you with professional yet candid advice. My goal is to be your trusted advocate, guiding you toward a decision you will be confident in for years to come. I will never steer you toward a choice that is not in your best interest. Having personally attended hundreds of open houses before finding the perfect home for my wife and me, I understand how overwhelming and time-consuming the search process can be. I also know the value of having an unbiased perspective along the way. 

If you are looking to buy a home in Seattle, Mercer Island, or the surrounding areas, I am here to help.

Step-by-Step Process for Buyers (How I operate):

I ask that buyers send me the addresses of any homes they’re interested in—either by email or text. Once I receive those, I’ll send over all the available documents from the NWMLS site for brokers. These usually include the listing description, preliminary title report, seller disclosures, any pre-inspection reports provided by the sellers, and so on. At this point, I don’t review the documents or pricing in detail—I simply pass them along for your own review.

If you’re still interested after reviewing the documents, I recommend visiting an open house to see the home in person. If you like what you see and want a more detailed look, I’m happy to schedule a private showing, walk through it with you, share my thoughts, and go over the documents together. During showings, I tend to focus on the potential issues or drawbacks of a property, as the positives are usually more apparent. After seeing a few homes together, most buyers develop a much clearer sense of what they truly want (and don’t want) in a home.

People often ask how my services compare to those of a traditional real estate broker. In short, I offer the same full-service experience—arguably better—with a more efficient and streamlined process, all for a fixed fee of $10,000.

To make this model work well, I encourage buyers to attend as many open houses as they can and to review the documents I send for each property. That said, I’m always happy to accompany you to homes that don’t have open houses, or those you’re seriously considering. For first-time buyers, I recommend we do a few showings early on to help you quickly narrow down your preferences.

I also try to keep travel within about 30 minutes one way from my home on Mercer Island (right by the highway). This includes most of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond, and nearby areas—provided we avoid rush hour traffic.

This approach works especially well for savvy, research-oriented buyers. I’m a strong researcher by both training and instinct, and I often catch details others might miss. In addition, I’ve remodeled several homes myself and can offer insight into potential renovation needs, costs, and opportunities—something many buyers find especially helpful during walkthroughs.

There’s no pressure to sign anything upfront. I don’t require a representation agreement until I’m submitting an offer on your behalf—and even then, it’s non-exclusive, so you’re always free to work with someone else if you choose.

Ready to get started or have questions? Feel free to reach out to me at joe@verraterra.com or call 206.402.8291.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeleerealty/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Joeleemercerisland