Category Archives: Home Sale

Keeping it Real… Safe

I’m excited to be getting back to work, and helping to serve you!

As we begin to re-open the Michigan real estate market there are a few things I have to ask in order to keep everyone safe while following CDC, state, and association guidelines. These requests also apply to photos, pre-listing appointments, inspections, final walkthroughs, and any other appointment related to your real estate needs.

First and foremost: Please notify me if any person occupying or entering the property has been exposed to, diagnosed with, or quarantined as a result of COVID-19 or is experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath or other cold or flu-like symptoms.

For home sellers or prospective home sellers:

Prior to and after any appointment or showing, please clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, handles, light switches, and countertops.
For all appointments, please unlock all doors, turn on lights/lamps, and open blinds to let light in and reduce surface contact.
For pre-listing walkthroughs, please open all interior doors.
For all new listings, please advise if you do not wish to allow in-person showings.
For any appointment that you must be present at the home, please remain on the opposite level of the home or exit the structure and maintain a 6 foot distance.
Please note that open houses are not allowed at this time.

For home buyers or prospective home buyers:

I will be providing a release form for every showing requested that must be signed prior to the showing taking place.
Please do not touch any surface or share items (pens, phones, tablets, etc) with others at the showing.
Please consider wearing gloves and a mask while viewing the home.
Please use hand sanitizer immediately prior to entering the home and upon exiting prior to getting into your car.

For everyone:
Please also note that there are restrictions in place on the number of people (4) that can be present in a home at one time, and those persons must maintain a 6 foot distance at all times. In addition, any conversation with a buyer or seller outside of a showing (where, by law, I must be present with the buyer) will not be conducted in-person. I have text messaging, email, IM, Zoom, phone, and more at my disposal for any needed conversation.

I appreciate your support and help to keep everyone safe.

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

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Inspections

What it is: The inspection stage is when the buyer will have any number of inspectors out to the property depending on the situation. These may be general property inspections, pest inspectors, and/or well and septic inspectors. Basically, the idea is to make sure the major components of the home are functioning as expected.

What to expect: As with showings I will ask that the inspections be requested via ShowingTime, but even more than with showings you should do everything in your power to make these work. Please be aware that general home inspections can take 2+ hours, radon will just be a drop off, and well/septic 20-30ish minutes so make sure to plan appropriately. There is also a time period (identified in the purchase agreement) for when these inspections need to be completed (usually 7-12 business days). After the inspection the buyer will discuss any issues with their agent and either request repairs, a credit to cover any needed repairs, or clear the inspection contingency. Please note that it is not uncommon to discover things that should be addressed, but generally these are only in the neighborhood of a couple hundred dollars.

What you will need to do: As with a showing you should not be present for the general home inspection. If there is a separate well/septic inspection you can generally be present, and a radon drop off/pick up does not require you to vacate. Please also note that I do not receive a copy of the inspection report, but in the case of any major requests I will ask for the pertinent parts of the report.

Next step (assuming all goes well): Appraisal (if bank financed) or Closing.

Note: Refer to emails or your Project Dashboard for details specific to your transaction

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

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Closing

What it is: The closing stage is the final few days before and day of completing the sale of your property!

What to expect: Likely the buyer will request a final walk-through within 48 hours of the scheduled closing to make sure there were no last minute issues. For the actual closing appointment, this will usually take place at my primary title company (but I have had instances where we have closed separately or even remotely). Assuming you will be at closing, please schedule time off of work if needed. While it usually will only take 45 minutes to an hour I have had instances where it has taken much longer.

What you will need to do: If we have not already scheduled the closing, please let me know if there are any days/time that do NOT work for you. You will need to bring your drivers license, passport, marriage/death/divorce certificates as needed, or any other required documentation. In addition, please schedule time off work, or an appointment to remotely sign paperwork in front of a Notary Public and overnight the documents prior to closing day.

Next step (assuming all goes well): Receive your sale proceeds!

Note: Refer to emails or your Project Dashboard for details specific to your transaction

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

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Underwriting

What it is: Underwriting is when the bank does their final due diligence on the buyer and any home/condo owners association. Usually a deal is good to go at this point, but things can and do happen.

What to expect: At this point, it is a waiting game. Once the bank finishes the underwriting they will issue a “clear to close” and we can schedule closing as early as 3 business days after the “clear to close” is issued. Please note that even if we do have a clear to close much earlier than the “close by” date on the purchase agreement, the buyer or you may need to hold off until closer to the purchase agreement date.

What you will need to do: Start packing if you haven’t already!

Next step (assuming all goes well): Closing

Note: Refer to emails or your Project Dashboard for details specific to your transaction

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

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Appraisal

What it is: The appraisal stage is when the bank will send an appraiser out to place a value on the property that is intended to be independent of whatever the agreed upon sale price is. As long as the property appraises for the same or more than the agreed upon price then everything moves along as expected. Should the appraisal come in low you will either need to settle for the appraised price, try and get the buyer to bring additional cash to closing via a renegotiated price, or try your luck with another buyer.

What to expect: The appraiser will request a date and time to come to the property which they or I will share with you via ShowingTime. Just like a showing you should not be present for the appraisal, but you can expect it to only take 15-30 minutes. Once they are done, they will complete the appraisal report and return it to the buyer and lender anywhere from 1 day to a week and a half later. In addition, please note that I am not told the appraised value unless it is low.

What you will need to do: Accept the appraisal showing request when it comes in. Vacate the property at the scheduled date/time. If you have a list of recent major additions/upgrades please feel free to share them with me and I will share them with the appraiser as appropriate (and to be up front, very rarely will it be appropriate).

Next step (assuming all goes well): Underwriting

Note: Refer to emails or your Project Dashboard for details specific to your transaction

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

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Sell My House

Looking to sell a home in the Greater Lansing area? Well, you’re in the right place! 🙂 Please fill out this entire survey to help me help you sell your home! * Details can be found below the form.

Legal Name(s)

US Citizen

Email Address(es)

Phone Number(s)

Birthday(s)

Address of the Property (include city and state)

County

School District

Approx Date Purchased

Expect to list in?

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Approximate Price Range

Annual Property Taxes

Mortgage Balance

Mortgage Interest Rate

How did you hear about me?

Tell me anything else I should know about the home you're looking to sell

Ok, so you want to know why I’m asking for all this information? It’s simple really. I want to know everything I can so that I can help you sell for the most money in the shortest amount of time possible. Here’s a breakdown of why I’m asking for each thing:

Legal Names: This is what will go on the contracts (so I need everyone’s name).

Email Addresses: This will be where any correspondence goes as well as anything that needs to be e-signed (so I need everyone’s address).

Phone Numbers: In a pinch I may need to call or text. I also like to know who’s calling or texting me 🙂

Birthdays: Who doesn’t want to have their special day remembered? No year required if you prefer not to supply that 🙂

Address, bedrooms, baths, etc: Hopefully it’s obvious why I need this information 🙂

Approximate Price Range: NP if you have no idea. Regardless of what you put in here I will still pull comps to see if now is the right time for you.

Annual Property Taxes, Mortgage Balance, Mortgage Interest Rate: These are all so I can help give you an idea of how much you will walk away with after the sale!

How did you hear about me: Your cousin Vinny, a past client of mine, saw my Facebook ad?

You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?

Sell My House | Buy a Home | Contact Me | Newsletter