As expected clients always have questions and requests for information during their real estate transactions. Whether you are buying, selling, leasing, or any combination of those, you will undoubtedly need to know a few things. I refer clients to this section to hopefully answer some of their questions day or night when I am unavailable.

If you are selling your home:

Have title sorted out. Know who is still on title and who has been added or removed with documentation handy for escrow. Always disclose immediately when the listing is taken.

If the home has any liens, structural defects, reasons it will struggle to sell or issues that will be discovered during title searches, inspections, walk throughs, and buyer diligence, EVERYTHING needs to be disclosed as soon as possible and is legally required to be in writing for buyers as well for escrow. If the the home has no known property or tax liens but the mortgage has not been paid, is underwater, risk of foreclosure, or any other conditions, those scenarios also need to be brought up immediately and known to me as the listing agent as well as legally disclosed to escrow and buyers.

Are there tenants on site? Pets? Anything to prevent easy showings or be a security factor? DISCLOSE. When in doubt, disclose everything. No matter how small or silly, let it be known up front.

If you are buying a home:

Make sure you have been preapproved by a great lender, local is always better, faster, and easier, who is responsive to you and answers your questions thoroughly. A lender who does not will be a nightmare during escrow and can delay closings as well as kill a deal completely, simply for lack of no response or diligence on your file.

Ask lenders lots of questions and make sure they are guiding you on the DOs and DONTs of approval. For instance: no big purchases or using of cash in accounts besides normal bills not affecting DTI. ASK YOUR LENDER. No opening and closing of credit cards and accounts without consulting with your lender first. Keep your savings healthy and protected. What you say you have needs to be there and available for closing. Don’t spend your down payment and closing costs! You don’t need new furniture, appliances, cars, etc before the deal is closed. THE DEAL IS NOT DONE UNTIL IT’S DONE! Escrows can be canceled at the last hour and sellers can affect closing on a home as well. Make sure you’re being smarter than ever with finances and credit during escrow. Ask your lender before everything you do. It’s important!

Be available and flexible for showings, inspections, service appointments, etc and BE ON TIME. Please respect everyone’s time and money and show up when you are supposed to. Always call if you will run a few minutes late or call ahead plenty to reschedule. Keep in contact by email and phone for documents to sign promptly, questions to answer, and to be reached by all parties including title and escrow throughout the sale.

If you are leasing:

Make sure your credit and rental history are solid. Your income should be sustainable, verifiable, sufficient, and well documented for at least a year, preferably two. Disclose if you have pets, children, disabilities (to make sure ADA requirements are also met at the property), vehicles, all persons living in the rental, and a clean record. If you have ever been evicted or will be, let that be known immediately.

Be diligent and available for smooth and speedy rental application. Be forthcoming to provide credit and background checks, rental history reports, income verification, and be available to sign leasing documents.

Property specific questions should be asked directly to the property owner or office. Do your own due diligence to check out the neighborhood, and rules, and anything else pertinent to your rental needs.