Register Real Estate Advisors

1. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical.
2. Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.
3. Don’t throw out everything. If your inclination is to just toss it, ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it.
4. Pack like items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utencils, etc.
5. Decide what if anything you plan to move yourself. Precious items, such as family photos, valuable breakables, or must-haves during the move, should probably stay with you.
6. Use the right box for the item. Loose items encourage breakage.
7. Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to lift. Keep weight under 50lbs. if possible.
8. Don’t over-pack boxes and increase the chances they will break.
9. Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes.
10. Label every box on all sides. You never know how they’ll be stacked and you don’t want to have to move other boxes aside to find out what’s there.
11. Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for your new house to help movers.
12. Keep your moving documents together, including phone numbers, driver’s name, and van numbers. Also keep your address book handy.
13. Back up your computer files before moving your computer.
14. Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.
15. Remember, most movers won’t take plants.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors, Copyriht 2005, All rights reserved.

1.  What are your qualifications?  Are you a member of the American Association of Home Inspectors?

2.  Do you have a current license?  Inspectors are not required to be licensed in every state.

3.  How many inspections of properties such as this do you do each year?

4.  Do you have a list of past clients I can contact?

5.  Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance?  May I have a copy of the policy?

6.  Do you provide any guarantees of your work?

7.  What specifically will the inspection cover?

8.  What type of report will I receive after the inspection?

9.  How long will the inspection take and how long will it take to receive the report?

10.  How much will the inspection cost?

Portions adapted from Real Estate Checklists and Systems and used with permission ( http://www.realestatechecklists.com ).  Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS.  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.

At today’s quarterly office meeting our team was awarded with the 1st Quarter 2010 Top Listing Agent Award.  Business is a booming!  If you need to buy, sell, or lease a home I hope you’ll call on our professional real estate team for help.  We are determined to be the best, most professional, and most knowledgeable team in the business!

You will walk away from the closing table with a packet full of documents and some of them are very important to keep. Hopefully the following guidelines will help you know what to put in the safety deposit box and what you can toss.

• The HUD-1 Statement, usually printed on legal size paper, is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Statement. This statement itemizes all the costs associated with the closing. You’ll need this for income tax purposes and when you sell the home.
• The Truth in Lending Statement summarizes the terms of your mortgage loan.
• The mortgage and the note (two pieces of paper) spell out the legal terms of your mortgage obligation and the agreed-upon repayment terms.
• The deed transfers ownership of the property to you.
• Affidavits swearing to various statements by either party. For example, the sellers will often sign an affidavit stating that they have not incurred any liens on the property.
• Riders are amendments to the sales contract that affect your rights. For example, if you buy a condominium, you may have a rider outline the condo association’s rules and restrictions.
• Insurance policies provide a record and proof of your coverage.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors, Copyriht 2005, All rights reserved.

When you are purchasing a home, there are hidden defects that you will want to look for.  Your seller will give you a disclosure statement to read over that will indicate any past problems that they are aware of in the house.  However, if it’s a foreclosure, the bank has never lived in the house and does not have to supply you with a disclosure statement.  I always encourage my buyers to get an inspection because the inspector is licensed and knows what to look for in the property.  You also want to be on the lookout for water leaks, foundation issues, drainage problems, termites, roof issues, potential wiring problems, and plumbing issues.  Stains on ceilings and near baseboards can be indicative of water leaks.  Large cracks in the homes foundation and horizontal cracks in walls and ceilings can indicate shifting in the foundation.  Look for standing water, either around the foundation of the home or in the yard.  You will want to have an exterminator check for termites.  Your inspector will be looking for broken or missing copings and buckled shingles.  They will also check to make sure the property does not have an antiquated fuse box and outlets without a place to plug in the grounding prong.  Make sure you check water pressure in showers, faucets and outside water pressure.  Also listen for banging in pipes.  These are all things you want to be watching out for when you are purchasing a home.  In addition to a home inspector checking out the property, you might want to have a certified HVAC dealer check out the heating and air conditioning systems in the home.

Moving to the Houston area?  I would like to be the first to welcome you and assist you with all of your real estate needs whether you are moving to Houston, The Woodlands, or Spring, Texas.  As a relocation specialist, I can help you sell your current property anywhere in the world and find a new one in this area.  As a RE/MAX agent, I help relocate families all over the globe.  Please call me today and I will be happy to send you a copy of the Houston Newcomer Guide.  It will help you narrow your search area and give you a lot of helpful information about the communities in the surrounding area.  I would like to help you with all of your relocation needs and my website offers a wealth of information.  You can search the entire Houston MLS database on my website and see my featured listings, too.  You can read my award winning blog and catch up on all the latest housing news.  Please call me today so we can get started.  When you talk to your human resources coordinator, please ask for me by name!  Shannon Register 832.628.SELL

1. Any repairs you’ve requested should be completed. You’ll need to obtain copies of paid bills and warranties at closing.
2. Make sure all items remain in the home – drapes, blinds, light fixtures, etc.
3. Make sure screens and storm windows are intact.
4. Intercom, doorbell, and alarm are operational.
5. Hot water is working and water pressure is good.
6. No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard.
7. Make sure you have garage door openers, gate openers, and mail box keys.
8. Manuals for appliances should be in the home.
9. All personal belongings from the seller should be removed.
10. If the home was to be professionally cleaned before closing it should appear to be clean.

Reprinted from Realtor Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors, Copyright 2005, All rights reserved.

Although FHA is the most common loan today, you will want to be sure to find a loan that fits your needs. Use these comprehensive questions to help you determine which loan is right for you.

1. What are the most popular mortgage loans you offer?
2. Which type of mortgage plan do you think would be best for us? Why?
3. Are your rates, terms, fees, and closing costs negotiable?
4. Will I have to buy private mortgage insurance? If so, how much will it cost and how long will it be required? NOTE: Private mortgage insurance usually is required if you make less than a 20% down payment, but most lenders will let you discontinue the policy when you’ve acquired a certain amount of equity by paying down the loan.
5. Who will service the loan? Your bank or another company?
6. What escrow requirements do you have?
7. How long is your loan lock-in period (the time that the quoted interest rate will be honored?) Will I be able to obtain a lower rate if they drop during this period?
8. How long will the loan approval process take?
9. How long will it take to close the loan?
10. Are there any charges or penalties for prepaying the loan?

This information is used with permission from Real Estate Checklists & Systems ( http://www.realestatechecklists.com ) . Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS, Copyright 2005, All rights reserved.

Lately, many of my sellers want to know if it makes sense to move up right now. Answer these questions below to help you decide whether moving up makes sense for you.

1. Have you lived in your home for at least 5 years so you can qualify for the $6,500 move up tax credit?
2. How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you’ve owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.
3. Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving?
4. Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you’ve had children, the quality of the schools may be more of a concern now than when you first purchased.
5. Can you add on or remodel? If you have a large yard, there might be room to expand your home. If not, your options may be limited. Also, do you want to undertake the headaches of remodeling?
6. How is the home market? If it’s good, you may get top dollar for your home.
7. How are interest rates? A low rate not only helps you buy more home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors, Copyriht 2005, All rights reserved.

When I list a property for sale, I always ask my sellers to put a home warranty on their property.  There are several reasons why I encourage my sellers to put a home warranty on their home.  The main reason is that the buyer is going to ask for it in the contract.  They always do!  To be competitive, you need to go ahead and have it on the property so it can be marketed with the property.  I like to use the American Home Shield Warranty, but there are several out there to choose from.  If you want to know how comprehensive the home warranty is, check the policy to see which items are covered.  Be sure to check whether the policy covers the full replacement cost of each item:  plumbing, electrical systems, water heater, furnace, heating ducts, water pump, dishwasher, stove, cooktops, ovens, microwaves, and swimming pool. 

Second reason I encourage sellers to put a home warranty on their properties is because during the buyers inspection, the inspector will find things wrong with the property that are going to need to be repaired.  It saves the seller money during the sell of the home.  Lastly, it protects the seller if something breaks while the home is on the market.  This way the seller does not incur additional expenses while trying to sell the property. 

Home Warranties are like buying insurance for your home.  There is still a co-pay when a service call is made, but it lowers the seller or buyers cost for repairs.