Buying and Selling

Professionals can also help homeowners weed out unqualified buyers and secure valid pre- approval letters. “We need to see the bank letter first before an appointment is made,” said Pellegrino, pointing out that this requirement serves to limit the number of people who walk through a person’s home, which is particularly important during the pandemic.

Realtors “can help sellers to prepare their house for sale, advertise it in the most-appealing way and places, make it compliant with fair housing laws, and show it in the safest possible way, especially during the pandemic,” Scott- Daniels said.

Further, she said, “Realtors are bound by a strict code of ethics first adopted in 1913 and which are updated annually. ( They) are bound to protect the public and to advocate for home ownership and private property rights, ( and they) are held accountable for their ethical behavior and business practices so that home buyers and sellers can expect honesty and integrity.”

They can help find available properties that might not yet be advertised; help buyers and sellers with the various regulatory requirements, national and state disclosures, and other documents required to complete real estate transactions; and provide local information regarding regulatory, zoning, inspections and inspectors, specialty contractors, mortgages, community amenities, and more, Scott- Daniels said.

And with their vast professional network, comprising about 3,500 associates in Fairfield County and about 17,000 statewide, “we can put together ( buyers and sellers) who wouldn’t otherwise meet,” Traum concluded.