This week's Washington Business Journal confirms that Realtors are still vitally important in the real estate transaction according to consumers. The Journal commented on the changing role of the residential real estate agent, and asked it readers, given their experience in the D.C. and Northern Virginia region's headline-making housing market, "How important are real estate agents when buying or selling a home today compared to 10 years ago?" Despite, online virtual home tours, full-service residential websites, properties on craigslist, and other tools at the consumer's disposal, survey respondents overwhelming believed that the role of a real estate agent in the D.C. metro area is crucial. 75% of readers believed that Realtors are either "Crucial," "Critical for negotiations and paperwork," or "More necessary now than ever." The largest response category was that Realtors are "critical for negotiations and paperwork." It is affirming to hear that the homebuying public does in fact understand our job. Locating the right home for a buyer, or listing a home for sale is an important part of the job, but definitely not the most crucial. The knowledge that Realtors possess about the market, the negotiating process, and the mountains of legalese and paperwork to complete the transaction is what distinguishes us and is how we earn our commissions. I always inform my clients after we find the right home and have a contract accepted or after a contract is accepted on our listing, that "now my real work begins!" The fact is that the bulk of the real work in a real estate transaction occurs between contract and closing. | 
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