FAQ

When I sell my home, what household items need to stay with the home?

According to the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), which is promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission, the following items would stay with the property: “all equipment and appliances, valances, screens, shutters, awnings, wall-to-wall carpeting, mirrors, ceiling fans, attic fans, mail boxes, television antennas, mounts and brackets for televisions and speakers, heating and air-conditioning units, security and fire detection equipment, wiring, plumbing and lighting fixtures, chandeliers, water softener system, kitchen equipment, garage door openers, cleaning equipment, shrubbery, landscaping, outdoor cooking equipment, and all other property owned by Seller and attached to described real property. The following described related accessories, if any: window air conditioning units, stove, fireplace screens, curtains and rods, blinds, window shades, draperies and rods, door keys, mailbox keys, above ground pool, swimming pool equipment and maintenance accessories, artificial fireplace logs, and controls for: (i) garage doors, (ii) entry gates, and (iii) other improvements and accessories.”

However, as the seller, if you did not want to leave your grandmother’s chandelier, or wanted to bring the custom-made curtains with you to the next home, you have two options. Either remove those items prior to putting your home on the market, and replace with something comparable, or, fill out an exclusions form, so I can inform all agents what is excluded from the home.

When is the best time to schedule my utilities?

I would recommend contacting your utility companies directly at least 2 weeks prior to closing to keep them informed.

How do I know what I am qualified for?

That is a great question for your local lender or local bank. I can absolutely recommend a couple of wonderful lenders that I have worked with on previous transactions.

Why do I need a REALTOR®? I believe you need to be represented by a REALTOR® for the following reasons.

1. REALTORS® follow a strict code of ethics and are held to a higher standard in comparison to other licensed real estate agents.
2. REALTORS® have access to forms and documents that will protect you during a real estate transaction.
3. REALTORS® have access to tools and data to help you price your home to sell, receive valuable feedback from other REALTORS, and submit strong offers.
4. REALTORS® have experience marketing homes, keep you up to do date with the process, and recommending professionals to help along the way.
5. REALTORS® are up-to-date with the market information and real estate laws.

What do I need on closing day?

I recommend to my sellers to bring proof of identification, and all keys and manuals for the home. I recommend for my buyers to bring proof of identification, cashier’s check for the amount you need to bring to closing, but also consult with your lender as well.

Why should I pick you to be my REALTOR®?

I am reliable and ready full time REALTOR®. My goal is for my clients to be at ease during the real estate transaction. I strive make my clients feel like their time, questions, and concerns the upmost priority. I also do my personal best to have effective communication, maintain professionalism, and constantly continue to learn about real estate. If you are interested in buying and selling your home, I believe it would be beneficial to sit down in person, and meet face to face.

Do you have recommendations for contractors, roofers, professional cleaners…

I can absolutely recommend 2-3 professionals in each field to help you along the way.

What are things I should watch out for when house hunting?

I would keep in mind that when you are house hunting, sometimes the home looks different in the pictures online. Sometimes the pictures make the house look better, or worse than it actually is. Especially with the fact that some agents have access to great editing software that can change paint colors, flooring, etc. The seller’s agent can also upload the photos in any order they want, so the floorplan of the house might be different than what you envisioned. I would keep an eye out for the following: cracks on ceilings and walls, broken windows, water damage, mold…

What is the home buying process like?

I enjoy working with people who want to buy homes. The process can be really fast, or it can take a while to find the house that you want to call home. I recommend that we sit down for a cup of coffee, so we can set expectations from the beginning. It will save time if I know when you will be available to buy, what your weekly schedule is like, and what are your “non-negotiables”. I also recommend getting pre-approved prior to seeing our first home. That way, you know what your budget is from the beginning, and you can submit a stronger offer.

How long does purchasing a home take?

That depends on what financing you are using, and how long it takes for us to find your home. Once we get a home under contract, depending on what your lender says, it takes about 45 days. However, I have had home close in 5 days, but I have also had home close in 90. Doing your homework in the beginning will help make the process more efficient. Some of the ways are as follows: working with a local lender, and getting pre-approved prior to finding a home; communicating quickly with myself, lender, title company, inspector…, and having realistic expectations.

How do we know we are selling our home for the right price?

When you are ready to sell your home, I will complete a comparable market analysis of homes that have sold recently that are similar to yours. It is important that we look at the data to price your home, because this data is similar to what appraiser use. We can also take into account improvements you have made, repairs that need to be done, and time frame that you want to move.

We want to put our home on the market, but it needs repairs. Do we do the repairs?

It depends. If you do not want to do any repairs, you may have to make up for that for listing your home for a lower price.

What happens if no one wants to buy our home?

Every home is sellable, it basically all comes down to price. If your home has had no offers, and it’s been on the market a while, then the price most likely needs to be adjusted.

When should I make an offer on a house?

I believe you should make an offer on a house when you are ready! Is the home within your budget? Does the home meet your “non-negotiable” requirements? The sooner you can answer those questions, the better! You never know when someone else is going to submit an offer.

Do I have to be in town to sign paperwork?

Nope! When it comes to signing my paperwork, I use a program called DocuSign. It is very user friendly, and works great with smartphones. However, if you feel more comfortable ink-signing paperwork, I would be happy to make accommodations! When it comes time for closing, it is best to communicate with your lender and escrow agent if you will not be in town to sign closing documents. At that point you may need a mobile notary, and to overnight mail documents.

I need to sell my home in order to buy my next one. How does this work?

During the real estate transaction, communication is very important. I strongly recommend that we get your home on the market prior to looking at new homes. If your home is located outside of East Texas, I can recommend an agent to help you get your home on the market. Then, once your home is on the market, I believe it is best to submit an offer when your home under contract. That way, you have a stronger offer.

What is the difference between option period money and earnest money?

Option period is your unrestricted right to terminate the contract. It is usually between 5-15 days, and the price per day is negotiable. On the last day of option period, you have until 5:00pm to make the decision to terminate the contract, extend the option period, or accept the contract. This is usually the time where buyers get their inspections, and professional quotes done. This is to help you make a well-informed decision about the home, and negotiate repairs, closing costs, non-realty items…

Earnest money is your intent to stay in the contract. Earnest money and option period are not required, but highly suggested. When you close on the home, this will be credited back to you.

How much money do I need for closing costs?

This is an excellent question for your bank or local lender. Prior to submitting an offer, I highly suggest you talk to your bank or local lender and get a pre-approval letter (if you need financing) or a proof of funds letter (if you are going to pay cash). I would be happy to refer some lenders to you!

How do I go about getting financing?

A local lender or your bank will give you more information about getting financing. I would be happy to refer some lenders to you!

Does staging furniture in your house make for a quicker sale?

I believe that before you pay for a professional stager, I recommend decluttering and depersonalizing your home. Not only will this help you transition to moving, but it will allow the prospective buyers to envision their lives in the home. I also recommend using the furniture you have in your home already and edit. Maybe you have too much furniture in one room, and not enough in the other. Either way, having your home show ready can lead to a quicker sale.