By 
Imagine today is closing day. You walk into the title company, and you and I sit down at the closing table. So many questions are running through your head: When do I get keys? When will the moving truck get here? Then, you sign all of the closing documents, and your escrow agent will walk out of the room. You and I will reminisce about all of the fun we had looking for your home. Then, the escrow agent comes back with a folder.
I recommend you take the folder, and get large binder, and you create “The House Book”. It is very important that you keep this. This can also be the place where you keep all of the copies of the documents you signed with me, survey, inspection report, appraisal, roof quotes…etc.
What I also recommend is that every time you make a repair, improvement, or alteration to your home, you make a note, and put a copy of the paid invoice with the folder. You can also make a note about your new paint color, flooring, curtains, landscaping…
Why?
At this moment, you may think the home you just bought is your forever home; and it may be! However, life happens. In the future, you may want/need to put your home on the market. After you call me over, and we sign listing documents, then I will ask you to fill out a seller’s disclosure. It is a WHOLE LOT easier to fill out a seller’s disclosure when you have notes about how your home changed since you became the owner. It will also be helpful to the new owner of your home.
When my husband and I closed on our home, the previous homeowner had saved a lot of information about the home. It was a great surprise when we received this information. The previous owner had saved paid invoices for repairs, custom curtains, paint colors… When we needed to touch up paint, we knew the exact color. When we purchase new blackout curtains, we know exactly where to get them. It’s been very helpful.
If you wanted to make “The House Book” digital, that would work too! You would just have to scan all of the closing documents into a file.
Have you lived in your home two weeks? Two months? Two years? Two decades? It’s not too late! Just get started today!
Happy Homeownership,
Kelly Raulston, REALTOR®
Reliable and Ready
Do you have a friend who is ready to sell their home, or a friend who is moving to East Texas. I would be honored to be their REALTOR as well!
Kelly Raulston
“Reliable and Ready” REALTOR® since 2016. I was born in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Texas since 1997. When I found out we were moving to Plano, Texas, I remember looking forward to riding a horse to school and a brand-new pair of cowboy boots! Growing up in Plano prepared me to be competitive, quick, and to have a strong work ethic.
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Axe’em Jacks! That is where my love for East Texas began. The nature, warm smiles, football games, and community values can't be beat! I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I was a middle school math teacher in Tyler, Texas. I met my husband, Travis, in Sunday school, and we have been married since September 2016.
I love being a REALTOR® in East Texas! Relationships are genuine, the area is beautiful, and the market is rockin’! I am an involved REALTOR® to better the community. Some of the organizations I am involved with are: The Professional Development Committee, Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, and Tyler Educational Networking Group. Some awards I have won were “The Hustle Award” in 2016, and “Rookie of the Year” in 2017.
When I am not working with my clients, I like to spend quality time with my friends and family doing the following: running, target practice, read and participate in book club, and playing with my dachshund Greta.
