豆知识 2010-02-28&03-06 REDFIN - 网上购房新体验

 For a first-time homebuyer, Karen knows a lot. She knows the neighborhoods and the types of home she wants. She's been looking on the web for a while, but now she is ready to tour homes even though she's a little unsure about details of the process. Karen realizes that she can do a lot of the services that a traditional realtor provides. She can scout¹ neighborhoods and search listings. She's comfortable finding² homes. But Karen needs help where really matters, touring homes, drafting³ offers and getting the best deal. That's where REDFIN comes in. REDFIN is an online real estate⁴ brokerage. This means that REDFIN knows when homebuyers need the web and when they need a real person.

 

When it comes to the web, REDFIN puts control in Karen’s hands. The website has the same MLS listings as other realtors use and information that Karen can't find on other sites, like how long a house has been for sale, its last sales price and what it’s worth now. Karen uses REDFIN.com to find the home she likes, and then visits its open houses to check them out in person. With REDFIN's help, she can also tour homes privately⁵. Once she sees them from the street, she gets through REDFIN.com to schedule a tour. She can schedule a tour of up to six homes at a time and the REDFIN agent opens the door for each one. When Karen finds her dream home, she knows it's time to work directly with the REDFIN agent. Here is how.

 

Karen starts the offer process on REDFIN.com. Getting started is easy and worry-free. She isn't committed to anything until she talks to one agent and signs the final paperwork. Once Karen sends an outline of her offer to REDFIN, Allie gets to work. Allie is Karen's REDFIN agent and knows the market well. She's local and has helped dozens of people buy homes. Plus, unlike traditional realtors who work for a percentage of the sales price, Allie gets bonuses based on customer satisfaction. This means Allie provides rock solid advice without sales pressure. To make sure Karen’s starting price and offer terms on target, Allie does some research on the house, and then talks to the seller⁶’s agent about what the seller wants.

 

During negotiations⁷, Karen is confident she will get the best deal. It's true. Compared to list price, REDFIN clients⁸ pay an average of 4,000 dollars less than clients of traditional realtors. One reason is Allie isn't working for a commission⁹, so instead of pushing for a quick sale, Allie's motivated to hold out for the best deal possible. Another reason is that she keeps Karen involved in each step. After the negotiations, Allie and her team work with Karen's lender and escrow agents to ensure an on time closing. In the end, Allie arranges for Karen to get the keys to her new home. Yeah!

 

And a nice surprise, a refund¹⁰ on the purchase price of her home. Here's how it works¹¹.

 

On a home that’s sold for 500,000 dollars, a traditional realtor keeps three percent of the purchase price. This means 15,000 dollars goes to the realtor. Instead of keeping three percent or 15,000 dollars, REDFIN sends Karen a check for 2/3 of that amount within 10 days of closing. That’s a 10,000-dollar refund, tax-free. Karen uses the money to pay all her clothing cost and to buy furniture for her new home. Karen can see why REDFIN make sense. She was able to make decisions for herself in the beginning and then have a real person on her side when it mattered most.

 

Now she's thrilled with her new home and knows that she got the best deal possible with REDFIN. Karen's not alone. Over 1000 customers have bought a home through REDFIN and more than 95% will recommend the service to a friend.

 

REDFIN, a smarter way to buy a home.

1 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

2 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

3 drafting   

n.起草v.起草( draft的现在分词 )；制定；征募；拟稿

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Drafting Committee will be in charge of working out a draft resolution to be submitted to the Conference for deliberation. 起草委员会将负责起草提交大会讨论的决议草案。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 estate   

n.所有地，地产，庄园；住宅区；财产，资产

参考例句：

• My estate lies within a mile.我的地产离那有一英里。
• The great real estate brokers do far more than this.而优秀的房地产经纪人做得可比这多得多。

5 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

6 seller   

n.售货者，畅销品

参考例句：

• I hope for this book to become a best seller.我希望这本书会成为一本畅销书。
• She drove a hard bargain with the seller.她狠杀卖主的价。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 clients   

n.顾客( client的名词复数 )；当事人；诉讼委托人；[计算机]客户端

参考例句：

• a lawyer with many famous clients 拥有许多著名委托人的律师
• She understood the importance of establishing a close rapport with clients. 她懂得与客户建立密切和谐的关系的重要性。

9 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

10 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。

11 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。