Pre-Listing Checklist:

• Congratulations on choosing the PCS Team! We have experience in getting top dollar quickly because of how we proactively market the property to buyers and agents, and our no nonsense negotiation skills.We are deeply rooted in community and we understand what makes our community and the people who call it home special. That is what it takes to truly be a local real estate expert; not just expertise in marketing and negotiation but a love and passion for our community and the people who live here. We look forward to working with you and to the successful sale of your property!

Photo Readiness:

• Our motivation matches your motivation. We can coordinate photos for anytime, however there is a 48-72 hour turn around. We have discovered that going active on Thursdays is a best practice for maximum exposure and a busy opening weekend, so to ensure that photos are back in time we recommend them no later than Monday on the week you plan on going active.
• Getting ready for photos

What is virtual staging?

• If your property is vacant we use virtual staging to really make your listing photos pop! We use software that can add in many different types of home decor and furniture so potential buyers can visualize what the home would look like with them in it. CLICK HERE to view an example of a home that was virtually staged.

Exclusions and Leases:

Are there any exclusions or fixture leases we need to be aware of?

• An exclusion is any item affixed to the property that you would like to bring with you. Examples would include attached items such as ring doorbells, curtain rods, security systems, nest thermostats, TV mounts that will not be staying, chandeliers OR appliances that will not be staying in the home. We do recommend any exclusions be removed prior to photos to avoid any confusion.
• A fixture lease includes solar panels, water softeners, security systems or natural resources. If leases apply we will need a copy of the lease agreement and information on costs/payments prior to listing.

Lockboxes and For Sale Signs:

• Typically within 48 hours of photos the for sale sign has been ordered and will be placed in the yard by one of our preferred vendors.They are the experts on ensuring the sign is visible and not violating encroachment rules by the city for sidewalks etc.
• The lockbox is typically placed a few days prior to going active for you to place a spare key in. It is very important to ensure we have any keys that may be needed for access, especially if there are separate ones for deadbolts etc. We try to place the lockbox in a visible location in the front of the home but sometimes this is not feasible. We will alert you where the lockbox is placed once it is on the property.

Seller Home Warranty:

• For each listing we ensure we have placed a Seller Home Warranty on the property. This is something we do at no cost to you but with lots of value! The home warranty is through First American Home Warranty and covers most of the major systems in your home for an $85 service fee. Shortly after you have signed listing documents you will receive information about this via the postal service.

Showing Time App

• View Instructions

Compliance documents/ what am I signing?

• We will send out two emails with compliance documents through an application called Dotloop.
• Listing Agreement: An exclusive listing agreement outlining our responsibilities to you as you are represented.
• IABS: Outlines broker and agent responsibilities to you as our client.
• Wire Fraud Notice: Do NOT wire anyone money without first verbally confirming with us it is safe to do so. This is extremely important. Always talk to me or Chasity first.
• General Information and Notice to Seller: Information about selling your property.
• Disclosure of Relationship with Residential Service Company: Notice our broker has a relationship with a home warranty company. This does not affect our agreement in any way, it is purely informational.
• Authorization to Furnish TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures: This allows us to work with the title company on your behalf.
• ABA Disclosure Form: This affiliated business disclosure discloses that our office has a relationship with True Title and that you are not required to use this provider. The services they offer are also available through other providers.
• Seller's Disclosure Notice. Please go through and complete to the best of your knowledge. It is completely acceptable to put U for Unknown in any category. I don't check for accuracy, only completeness. So, please ensure there is an answer next to EVERY question--Y, N, U or N/A. On the bottom of the first page, if you do mark Y for any item, please make sure you also complete the additional information to the right as well. [Example: Central AC: Y, Electric, Number of Units: 2.] Once it's complete please initial and sign as appropriate.
• Residential Input Coded Features Form. Please go through and fill out the information you know about your home. This helps us enter the correct information into the Multiple Listing Service to ensure your home is represented accurately.
• Title Company Seller Pre-Closing Information. The title company needs this completed to request your mortgage payoff and begin working the title commitment to sell your house. It needs to be filled out completely to include your SSNs, DOB, Driver’s License # and Issuing State, Marital status, and Loan Payoff information to include the Loan Number.
• Lead Based Paint Addendum (applicable if home was built before 1978) provides your knowledge of the property. Please make sure you check the appropriate block in Section B. Seller’s Disclosure also.
• For administrative purposes our listing agreements end on either 6/30 or 12/31. Reminder: we have a risk free guarantee that ensures that should you be unhappy with us at any point we are in an agreement that you can terminate the agreement with us. We only ask that we have an opportunity to correct whatever may have gone wrong.

Common Definitions:

• Escrow
  Escrow is a legal arrangement in which a third party temporarily holds money or property until a particular condition has been met (such as the fulfillment of a purchase agreement).
• Closing Costs
  Closing costs are the expenses over and above the property's price that buyers and sellers usually incur to complete a real estate transaction. Those costs may include loan origination fees, discount points, appraisal fees, title searches, title insurance, surveys, taxes, deed recording fees, and credit report charges. The lender is required by law to show these costs in a loan estimate form within three days of a home loan application.
• Option Period
  An agreed-upon period of time, after the buyer and seller have signed the real estate contracts, during which the buyer can terminate the contract for any reason without risking their earnest money.
• As-Is
  The phrase “as is” does not mean that a buyer waives any and all inspection contingency rights, meaning that it does not stand for the idea that a purchaser will buy the property regardless of what they find during inspections. Rather, the phrase “as is” means that either the general condition of the property is already accounted for in the purchase price of the home and the seller will not address the inspection issues that may arise either by way of making actual repairs or offering a reasonable credit for same.
• Pre-qualification
  Getting pre-qualified involves supplying a bank or lender with their overall financial picture, including debt, income, and assets. The lender reviews everything and gives an estimate of how much the borrower can expect to receive. Pre-qualification can be done over the phone or online, and there's usually no cost involved. Pre-qualification is quick, usually taking just one to three days to get a pre-qualification letter. Keep in mind that loan pre-qualification does not include an analysis of credit reports or an in-depth look at the borrower's ability to purchase a home.
• Pre-approval
  Getting pre-approved is the next step, and it's much more involved. "A pre-qualification is a good indication of creditworthiness and the ability to borrow, but a pre-approval is the definitive word," said Kaderabek. The borrower must complete an official mortgage application to get pre-approved, as well as supply the lender with all the necessary documentation to perform an extensive credit and financial background check. The lender will then offer pre-approval up to a specified amount. Going through the pre-approval process also offers a better idea of the interest rate to be charged. Some lenders allow borrowers to lock in an interest rate or charge an application fee for pre-approval, which can amount to several hundred dollars.
• Earnest Money Deposit
  A type of deposit paid by home buyers to sellers. Buyers pay EMD to sellers of properties and other government and private projects. It is usually a token amount paid to the seller, indicating your interest in buying property.
• Option Fee
  Payment to the owner for the right to enter the property and perform any inspections or due diligence necessary within a specified amount of time.
• Debt to Income Ratio
  Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) compares how much you owe each month to how much you earn. Specifically, it's the percentage of your gross monthly income (before taxes) that goes towards payments for rent, mortgage, credit cards, or other debt.
• Equity
  Your home's equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you owe on your mortgage.
• Proof of Funds
  A document that demonstrates how much money a person or entity has available. When purchasing a home, you may need a POF to show the seller that you can cover the purchase costs of a home. Remember that purchase costs can include the down payment, escrow and closing costs.
• Seller's Disclosure Notice
  A legal document that requires sellers to provide previously undisclosed details about the property's condition that prospective buyers may find unfavorable.
• Principal
  The individual who is selling the real estate property
• Principal Balance
  A loan's actual balance, excluding the interest owed for borrowing
• Appraisal
  A fair market valuation of property, such as real estate, by the estimate of a licensed appraiser
• Contingency
  “Contingent” in any sense means “depending on certain circumstances.” In real estate, when a house is listed as contingent, it means that an offer has been made and accepted, but before the deal is complete, some additional criteria must be met. For instance, if a seller offers a certain price and you, as the buyer, say the price is fine (provided the home inspection comes back clean), you have made a contingent real estate contract. In this case, the sale of the house depends on the inspection not having problems defined in the contract.
• Backup Offer
  A backup offer is made in acknowledgment of an existing offer and ensures a contract with the seller if that first offer falls through. It's a legally binding contract that, if accepted by the seller, will put you next in line to purchase the home should the first buyer back out. A qualified home inspector assesses the property's condition, including its heating and cooling systems, plumbing, electrical work, water, and sewage, as well as some fire and safety issues. In addition, the home inspector will look for evidence of insect, water, fire damage, or any other issue that may affect the property's value.
• Inspection
  A home inspection observes and reports on the condition of a real estate property, usually when it is on the market to be sold.
• Offer
  An Offer to Purchase Real Estate is a legal document used to outline a potential real estate transaction between two parties. It is typically used when someone wants to put an offer on a house or other private residence that is for sale but there are conditions that need to be met before the sale can be finalized.
• Counter Offer
  An offer made in response to the original bid
• Seller Concession
  Closing costs that the seller has agreed to pay. Sometimes, you can ask the seller to contribute to specific closing costs. Other times, sellers may simply pay a percentage of the total closing costs.
• TItle Search
  A property title search examines public records on the property to confirm the property's rightful legal owner. The title search should also reveal if there are any claims or liens on the property that could affect your purchase .
• Title Work
  The work that is done to ensure that the title is clean when it is passed on from Seller to Buyer. The title company researches the title to find out if there are any liens and encumbrances against the property.
• Title Insurance Policy
  A title insurance policy contains provisions for the payment of losses which result from a covered claim. The title insurance policy also covers legal fees in defense of a claim against your property. Coverage can benefit the homeowner or the bank or mortgage company (lender).
• Funding
  In Texas buyers cannot get keys to the home until the sale funds. Funding can be defined as the process of wiring (releasing) money from the mortgage lender to title or escrow prior to or at the closing of a real estate transaction, meaning that funding is the act of physically transferring funds from the lender. Funding typically happens the same day, or the next business day after signing.