In Arizona
©2014 – The Szabo Group
MISSION STATEMENT Consistently provide clients with the most exceptional and innovative real estate experience. We strive to exceed expectations, riding the cutting edge of real estate marketing practices in an evolving marketplace. To sell your home at the highest possible price, in the shortest amount of time with the most favorable terms, while providing world class real estate services.
CONTENTS
Introduction
The Listing Process
Marketing Commitment
Feedback Information System
Property Value
Escrow Process
Seller Information
Contracts
In Arizona The Szabo Group | 2014
MEET JOE & LINDA SZABO In today’s Phoenix Metropolitan area real estate market, selecting the right real estate agent is crucial. It can make all the difference in the world.
Dear Seller, Thank you for viewing The Szabo Luxury Group’s Selling Guide. This book will provide you valuable information regarding the listing process, how your home will be marketed all the way through a closed transaction. We also invite you to visit our website at www.AZLuxuryHomes.com to learn more information about our team and see our marketing for our current homes for sale. Thank you,
Joe and Linda Szabo Follow Us
Online
MEET JOE & LINDA SZABO With The Szabo Luxury Group’s extensive real estate experience in the “Valley of the Sun” including: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Fountain Hills, Carefree, Cave Creek, Glendale, Chandler, and Gilbert real estate as well as intimate local area knowledge, they work diligently to help buyers and sellers meet their real estate needs.
First-class support team for concierge-level real estate service
Extensive experience and record results
Brilliant marketing materials showcasing your property
Exceptional negotiation skills
Unrivaled internet exposure to attract the most buyers for your property
Cutting-edge marketing techniques and strategies
Leading real estate company
Personalized and proven seller plans to provide a seamless transaction
Honest, trustworthy, with a keen awareness of your needs and goals
Over 30 years experience in the Phoenix Metropolitan area
Top notch marketing for luxury properties and estates
Vast market knowledge
Dedication to clients
Love and passion for real estate as well as the Valley lifestyle, schools, amenities, subdivisions, golfing communities and local happenings
Our online presence using cutting-edge real estate marketing practices in a fluid and evolving marketplace assists us in gaining maximum exposure for our sellers with one goal in mind—ultimately yielding the highest possible price for our clients. Out own websites and blogs: AZLuxuryHomes.com and ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com have thousands of visitors. We market your property on the largest real estate websites including Zillow, Truilia, Realtor.com, Homes.com, as well as all of our social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest, Houzz, YouTube and many more. Bottom line—when it comes to exposure for your home, no stone is left unturned!
ACHIEVEMENTS Experience, Knowledge and Proven Results are qualities associated with Joe and Linda Szabo of RE/MAX Fine Properties.
Joe and Linda are in the top
1%
Designations/Accolades
of all Realtors in The Nation.
REALTOR Certified Distressed Property Expert Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource RE/MAX Top Team - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2004 - 2005 - 2007 - 2008 - 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 100% Club Award Winner Platinum Club Award Winner Chairman’s Club Award Winner Technology Award Winner Hall of Fame Award Winner Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Anyone considering The Szabo Group to sell (or buy) a home--do it! I've been buying and selling real estate with various agents in both California and Arizona and until I worked with this professional team, had to rely on my own skill sets to help with the transaction of buying or selling a home. It is absolutely refreshing to work with someone who knows the tactics to move your home. Joe Szabo brings decades of experience in marketing, relationship building and NEGOTIATIONING the deal. Their open and honest representations, attention to detail, and personal motivation to help you sell (or buy) is unmatched by anyone. A specific example: in the final week of complying with the buyers wish list of "fixes", the air conditioning vendor and roofer tried to gouge us due to the fact that we had to fix these items. Through Joe's network, and relationships he reduced he cost from more than $2500 estimate to less than $1000. A $1500+savings. He also attended the full inspection, found the painter, attended many showings, and was absolutely professional in communications throughout the process. Now, more than ever before, you need a team who can get your home exposure to the most people, and have your house highlighted the right way--just see the professional virtual tours they do! Once you have a buyer you need a negotiator who will represent you properly--The Szabo Group absolutely can! Call me anytime. I cannot say enough positive things about Joe, Linda and Brianna's stick to it attitude and commitment to excellence.
Chad and Tracey B.
WHY RE/MAX? RE/MAX is the most recognized name in real estate. Nobody in the world sellers more real estate than RE/MAX.
World leader in residential real estate Over 90,000 full-time agents worldwide Sales Associates are among the most experienced in the industry Sales Associates average more sales per agent than other agents Over 70% of sales come from repeat customers or referrals from past customers and friends—twice the industry average RE/MAX has more top producers than any other company Comprehensive print, TV and direct mail advertising programs An extensive web presence - www.remax.com is the #1 real estate network in the U.S. Sales Associates, including donate to the following organizations with each Buyer and Seller transaction - Children’s Miracle Network - Komen for the Cure
5 FACTORS DETERMINE SELLER SUCCESS
Location
How heavy is the traffic? Is it a busy street? Is there noise from freeways or airports or nearby facilities? Which direction is the home facing? What proximity are the schools, shopping, commuter roads, and parks? The desirability of the surrounding neighborhood has a huge impact on a buyers decision to buy.
Amenities
Features like: size, room count, stories, age, lot size, privacy, designated schools, HOA fees and amenities, etc. are commonly used by buyers to screen properties.
Condition
Homes in excellent condition are easier to sell than homes that do not show well. Buyers usually buy based on emotion, not logic‌ the feeling that they get from the home. A buyers’ perception of your home will have a big impact on how it sells.
Price
How you price your home will determine how quickly you sell it and how much you net from the sale. You may control the price of your home, but you cannot control the value.
Your Agent
Who you choose as an agent has an enormous impact on your success as a seller. Your agent determines the price you get in the market, the stress level of the transaction, and the quality of the experience of selling your home. Your agent is your quarterback, your home marketing consultant, your marketplace spokesman, and your partner in negotiating and closing the sale.
Peter and I continue to pinch ourselves. Is our new home really ours? Now that we have been in the house for a week, we are extremely happy. When Linda said, she always aims for the perfect match, we did not know how patient and perceptive she would be. From the street the house is unpretentious, nicely shaded, with attractive planting and a welcoming gate. Once you enter the front door the view is spectacular from the sky reflected in the pool, to the lush green golf course and the rising mountains on the horizon - exactly what we had hoped for but had not imagined possible. To you both, we owe a debt of gratitude. When an acquaintance of ours had said you must contact the Szabos if you are looking for a house in the Scottsdale area, they were right. From our first encounter on the phone to obtaining the keys, you were friendly, enthusiastic and extremely helpful. Thank you for making the purchase such an easy process. We look forward to our "retirement." Thank you, too, for the beautiful gift, we shall treasure them as we remember your kindness and your thoroughly professional assistance. Peter and Susie W.
9 CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUR AGENT
1
Understanding the current market conditions and the value of your home.
2
Calculating your bottom line—ensuring that there will be no fees down the line that you’re surprised with or that are unexpected (i.e., professional cleaners, pre-showing preparation, etc.)
3
Guiding you in setting the right list price.
4
Preparing your home for sale—which may mean everything from photography, to cleaning, staging, and repairs on your home.
5
Advertising and marketing your home—including posting to numerous internet sites, MLS listings, showings, flyers, virtual tours, SEO expertise, and email marketing. In other words, letting the whole world know about your property!
6
Qualifying the buyer—ensuring they can buy your home and helping you get the best price and terms with inspections, contingencies, appraisals, etc.
7
Addressing your relocation needs.
8
Negotiating on your behalf and acting as your fiduciary ensuring your interests are protected at all times.
9
Telling you the truth—you cannot make an informed decision if we’re not 100% straight-forward with you about everything from realistic expectations, to staging your home, to pricing it, to final closing costs.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH AGENCY It is required that Realtors and their clients record the nature of their working relationship. There are two different types of agency relationships.
The Buyer’s Broker A Buyer’s Broker works only for the Buyer and has fiduciary responsibilities to the Buyer. These responsibilities include “undivided loyalty, reasonable skill and care, confidentiality, obedience, advocacy, accountability and disclosure.” However, a Buyer’s Broker must also treat all parties, including the Seller and the Seller’s agent, fairly and honestly and must not misrepresent on matters that apply to the transaction. NOTE: Sellers and their agents have similar relationships. The Seller’s Agents have the same responsibilities and obligations to their clients.
The Limited Representative Limited dual representation occurs when a Buyer client wishes to view a listing represented by another RE/MAX Fine Properties agent. In this particular case, the RE/MAX Fine Properties broker would represent both the Buyer and the Seller in a transaction. This is done with limitations on the duties owed to both. These limitations would include the disclosure of confidential information. In essence, a brokerage firm involved in a limited dual representation will not be able to put one party’s interest ahead of those of the other party and cannot advise or counsel either party on gaining an advantage at the cost of the other party.
THE LISTING AGREEMENT The Exclusive Right to Sell listing agreement is an employment contract that establishes the relationship between the Seller and the Broker. The key elements of the agreement are as follows:
It has a beginning and ending date
It lists the asking price and description of the property being offered for sale
It specifies items that are included in the sale
The showing accessibility of the property is determined
The agency relationship between the parties is acknowledged (See Agency Relationships)
The compensation to the Broker is noted
The signatures from all parties are required
The Profile Sheet details the specific features of your home. It is important that you review it for accuracy since this information is distributed through the Multiple Listing System to the buying public. It is also important that you notify us if there are any changes.
Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS) This document poses a variety of questions for the seller to answer about the property and its condition. This 6 page form asks specific questions about your home and was designed to help you fulfill the disclosure requirements. The benefit to you as the Seller, is that is reduces liability after you’ve closed. Please note that the SPDS is not a substitute for a Buyer’s Inspection nor is it a warranty of any kind. The Disclosure Statement will be placed in your file until an offer is received. At that time the prospective Buyer will examine it and will have to acknowledge the receipt of the SPDS in Writing, within 5 days after contract acceptance.
Insurance Claims History The seller is obligated to deliver a written 5 year insurance claim history regarding the premises (or claims history for the length of time the seller has owned the premises if less than 5 years), from the sellers insurance company, an insurance support organization, such as Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.), a consumer reporting agency, or if unavailable from these sources, from the seller, within 5 days after contract acceptance.
PREPARING YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE These tips are invaluable and will make your property more appealing to potential buyers.
Curb appeal is everything! Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse; you want landscaping to be tidy and add bursts of color (i.e., planting flowers) greeting your buyers.
Stage for a quick sale with more money. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. Fewer than 10-15% of buyers can see the “potential” in a property. Small investments up front in neutral colors will pay dividends. A quicker sales at a higher price will result in almost all cases.
First impressions are lasting! The front door greets the prospect so make sure it looks nice and clean. If the trim looks a little frayed, spruce it up with a coat of paint prior to your property going on the market.
Clean and let the sun shine in. Make sure everything is spotless before you show your house, including windows—the more light steaming into your home, the better.
Little repairs make a big difference. Fix the faucet, loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor flaws. Any small repairs detract from property value so have them fixed before putting your property on the market.
Safety first. Keep stairways clear to avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries.
Make your space appear bigger. Pack up excess linens and clothing to make closets look bigger and remove excess furniture from rooms. Leave plenty of cleared floor space to emphasize available space.
Bathrooms help sell properties. Make the bathrooms sparkle and shine. Don’t let the handyman add gobs of caulking when grout is what you
need. Make sure to remove (or mention to the Szabo Group) any attached items that are not included, such as special chandelier, shelving or garden plants so prospects don’t become attached to what is not available.
PRICING YOUR PROPERTY Getting the Best Price in the Shortest Time: The Role of a REALTOR in Pricing.
The value of your home is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay in today’s market based on comparing your home to others currently for sale, and closed
We analyze current listing and sale prices of similar homes in your area to form an opinion of value
Major factors affecting value include: Supply & Demand, Condition, Seasonal Markets, Mortgage Market, Economic Conditions and Location
The benefits of competitive pricing include: - Maximizes early weeks of peak interest and activity - Attracts more potential buyers - More likely to attract higher offers - Leads to a fast sale and closing
PRICING YOUR PROPERTY Getting the Best Price in the Shortest Time: The Role of a REALTOR in Pricing. Myth:
You should select a REALTOR who quotes you the highest price
Truth:
An agent who knowingly takes an overprices listing usually plans to start “working on you” immediately to get you to agree to a series of deep price cuts.
By the time an overpriced home is finally reduced to the market it may be too ‘aged’ for buyers to offer full price. Have you ever asked how long a home has been on the market? What conclusion do you draw?
Many qualified potential buyers won’t even look, thinking it’s out of their price range.
Your home will be compared to homes that are of higher value, with more features, and better value for the price, thus eliminating your home even if it could have been purchased for less.
Overpricing lengthens marketing time.
Tends to dampen the other salespeople’s attitude and enthusiasm, making it less likely to be shown.
How to sell your home for the BEST PRICE, in the SHORTEST TIME, with the MOST FAVORABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS...
By pricing it RIGHT
OUR MARKETING COMMITMENT A powerful, comprehensive strategy to get the highest possible price for your home
Let’s get your home sold! We can GUARANTEE that we will do everything we possibly can to help your home sell. The program that we offer is the most sophisticated in the industry. Our marketing program is successful and includes each of the areas listed below: Multiple Listing Service We will place your home on the MLS immediately for maximum exposure. Approximately 32,000 agents valley wide will have access to your listing.
Signs The For Sale sign of a respected agent is an extremely powerful sales tool. Our sign will be placed in front of your home, where permitted, to attract potential buyers.
Lock Box (When Applicable) Assuming that a house key is promptly available, a lock box will be placed outside your home. This device permits supervised access to the property without inconveniencing the homeowner. This is a great tool because it ensures that the Buyer’s agents will be able to accommodate their client’s schedules without altering yours. For safety reasons the lock box also records all showing data including the agents name, time of entry and contact information.
Pricing We will provide you with a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that will allow you to see the relative value of your property by comparing it with those homes recently sold and/or are currently on the market. We will also use our extensive knowledge and expertise of the market to help you negotiate the best price possible.
Full Color Flyers A customized color photo flyer will be designed and printed to assist in the marketing of your home. The flyer will combine the property description with other specific relevant materials that pertain to the characteristics of the home. Flyers will be available in the home and available for buyers to print online.
OUR MARKETING COMMITMENT A powerful, comprehensive strategy to get the highest possible price for your home
Featured Homes We make use of many internet tools to market your property. One tool in particular is extremely helpful when it comes to marketing your home as well as giving you proper feedback directly from the source. www.Realtor.com offers a special element called “Featured Properties.” Here your home will be broadcast nationwide on the front pages of www.Realtor.com. This feature not only advertises your home to millions of viewers nationwide, it also provides us with data about who, what, where, and when someone visited your home profile.
The Homeowners Book This book holds valuable information regarding your home. It details all aspects of your property as well as the surrounding community. This information would be very beneficial for a potential buyer to recognize the value of your home.
Internet Promotion The internet fastest growing marketing tool in the Real Estate Business today! Buyers are more technologically refined and many enjoy being able to preview properties on their own schedule before actually calling a Realtor to see it in person. Your property will be made available to the National Realtor’s Website (www.Realtor.com as mentioned previously), where we have an upgraded site which allows us to post additional photos of your home’s interior and to highlight special features. Your property will also be available on the most visited real estate websites in the world including Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com, as well as all social media outlets including Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Youtube, Tumblr, Google+, Houzz, and many more. Finally you will be broadcast as a featured property on this website via www.ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or www.AZLuxuyHomes.com as well as www.REMAX.net which will attract international referrals and relocations.
Virtual Tours Virtual Tours are the new wave of the future when it comes to promoting your property. They are completed quickly, they do not require any additional software downloads, and they are extremely viewer friendly. They showcase various rooms of your home in a 3D like manner. Tours are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week allowing viewers to look at their own leisure. Once completed the tour is added to YouTube which reaches over 160,000,000 unique visitors each month! As a seller you will receive weekly updates on how well your tour is performing including how many visits per day/week/month buyers have viewed your home as well as which photos were viewed more than others.
OUR MARKETING COMMITMENT A powerful, comprehensive strategy to get the highest possible price for your home
Realtor Tours We make a serious attempt to take advantage of a wonderful tool called the Realtor Tour. This tour exposes your home to a large group of Realtors at one time. Not only is it a great publicity opportunity it also enables us to question their opinions about both condition and pricing of your home while “selling them” on the merits of the property.
Open Houses (When applicable) Open houses are a great way to get a feel of what type of hype your home is bringing. It is also a good way to get the public a chance to physically see the home and get a feel for the home itself as well as the surroundings.
Marketing Activity Report We will provide you with a market activity report as frequently as necessary. This report will advise you of any changes in market conditions, interest rates, and much more. These details are important because they may affect the sale of your property. This report will also include information and updates on recent sales, new listings, and the relative value of your home with comparable properties. Finally we will recap feedback, and showing information as well as plan marketing efforts for the following weeks.
Advertising Your home will be periodically advertised in Homes and Land magazine, other print media as well as online publications. Just Listed and property specific postcards will also frequent your neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods for further exposure. Your home will also be displayed in our newsletters which will be distributed throughout various neighborhoods in the Valley as well as through our sophisticated email campaigns.
Feedback Feedback and communication is essential when selling your home. It is important that you, the seller, are aware of the comments that we receive about your property. The Szabo Group will provide you with feedback on showings frequently. Agents traditionally leave a business card following each showing, and it is important for you to provide us with all the names and numbers of these agents (Note: If your property is vacant we will retrieve this information). This will allow us to make contact with the Buyer’s agents to receive feedback on the showing. We will also read our key boxes electronically to obtain the agent’s names and showing information. In addition to providing insights on how to improve the marketing presentation of your home, our follow up will determine their client’s level of interest and give us an opportunity to overcome any objections or questions that may have been asked.
Thank you, again, for the tremendous job that you did in finding us our wonderful home. After moving six times in eight years we can say with certainty that you are the most professional, capable and conscientious real estate agents we have ever known. You exceeded our every expectation. Finding our new house in one day (after we had looked for a year with other agents) and then selling our house for full asking price in less than a week can only be described in one word: Wow!! Thank you again. “ Al and Hillary B. (President, Cavalry Investments)
FEEDBACK INFORMATION SYSTEMS Our promise is to keep you informed and in the loop regarding buyer feedback on your property.
FEEDBACK INFORMATION SYSTEMS Our promise is to keep you informed and in the loop regarding buyer feedback on your property.
FEEDBACK INFORMATION SYSTEMS Our promise is to keep you informed and in the loop regarding buyer feedback on your property.
Joe and Linda Szabo are an incredible team. They are extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of real estate and provided meticulous and comprehensive service to us in every facet of the buying and selling processes. Their expertise, unmatched integrity, dedication and personal commitment to us brought a deep sense confidence and trust as they guided us through the sale of two houses and a condo, the renting of two properties, and the purchase of two homes. We particularly appreciated that they made a concerted effort to provide guidance around the strengths and weaknesses of each property in every situation, taking a personal interest in what was best for our family. They are resourceful and well-informed and were conscientious in effectively communicating with all parties. They made themselves available and accessible every and any time we needed them. They are warm, caring, individuals whose professional prowess is built on strong moral values. Both are unassuming and enjoyable to work with which helped alleviate our stress as we navigated through all of our real estate ventures. We enthusiastically and confidently recommend the Szabo Group. Michael and Fran C.
NEGOTIATIONS AND DEFENDING YOUR EQUITY “The power in negotiations is in the ability to walk away… the skill is never having to!” Better negotiation skills lead to
BETTER RESULTS
The negotiations and skill level of your real estate agent in this area is one of the most important aspects to the successful outcome of your real estate transaction. Negotiation is an art form mastered through experience. Joe and Linda Szabo excel at this art which has lead to a majority of their success and helping their clients get what they want—the highest possible price! Selling a home is one of the biggest sales you’ll make in your lifetime. Deciding who will help you is crucial. It’s important to assess the skills and background of the individual that will guide you through the process. You want someone strong, persistent, straightforward, and who is never afraid or unwilling to negotiate for you. ACCEPT IT
A BUYER MAKES AN OFFER ON YOUR HOME
REJECT IT YOUR REALTOR PRESENTS THE OFFER TO YOU
COUNTER IT
NEGOTIATE THE DEAL
THE OFFER Presenting the Offer
We will contact you immediately as soon as we are notified of an offer on your home. When we call you to arrange for the presentation, we may not be aware of the terms of the offer. Your Options Accept the offer exactly as it is presented and your home is sold! Reject the offer as it is presented because it’s terms are unacceptable to you. Make counter proposals until both parties are agreeable.
Delivery of the Contract
A copy of the finalized Purchase Contract and the Sellers Disclosure Statement will be delivered to the buyer and their real estate agent. A copy of the purchase contract, along with any other necessary documents, and the buyers earnest money will be given to the escrow company. This is called “opening escrow.”
Our Responsibilities
We will follow the progress of the buyers mortgage application until we know that a written commitment has been received. We will follow up on any additional deposits and/or contingencies in the contract and will notify you as soon as they have been met. We will deliver keys to the buyer once the new deed has been recorded. we will keep you updated on all of the developments and do everything in our power to ensure a timely and satisfactory closing for you.
Your Responsibilities
Provide the escrow company with the names, phone numbers and account numbers of all parties to be paid off out of the proceeds of the sale or your home. Allow access to your home within reasonable notice for inspections and appraisals. Provide an owners title policy for the buyer and a termite inspection report. Make any repairs previously agreed upon prior to closing. Notify your utility companies to transfer the accounts into your buyer’s name. Leave your home in relatively the same condition as when the buyer made the initial offer. Provide us with all keys and/or instructions to operate the locks, mailbox, security system and access to all common areas, if any.
THE CONTRACT It is important that you review this document prior to accepting an offer so that we can clarify any questions your may have. The main elements of the contract are as follows: Receipt of Deposit This is where the amount of earnest money is indicated and it also shows where the deposit will be held.
The Offer The amount the buyer will be offering is usually, but not always, the starting point in negotiations. This section will also specify items included and excluded in the sale, any additional deposit monies, the mortgage amount and the closing date.
Financing : Loan Status Report The LSR (Loan Status Report) details information regarding the mortgage, including the amount to be Financed and the type of mortgage to be obtained. This LSR must accompany the offer.
Title and Escrow This is where the buyer states what method of title the property will be held in and which Escrow Company will be handling the closing. It also states that pro-rations will be calculated as of the closing date and that all outstanding assessments or liens will be paid by the seller.
Disclosures, Inspections and Warranties In this section, the buyer is acknowledging receipt of the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement, the Swimming Pool Barrier Regulations and Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, which is required for homes built prior to 1978.
HOA Addendum (If Applicable) The Home Owners Association dues are indicated on this document. It should be noted that the seller must furnish a written notice of a pending sale to the association within 5 days (assuming there are more than 50 units). Association transfer fees are usually negotiable unless otherwise indicated.
Addendum We have a standard addendum that we include with the counter offer, if necessary, which covers items that are not on the preprinted contract.
THE CLOSING PROCESS Once an offer has been accepted, we aggressively and efficiently manage the transaction to give you peace of mind and ensure a hassle-free escrow. The Szabo Group handles the following:
Closely monitor the contract to ensure the buyer performs on all contingencies in a timely manner Attend all inspections in person and review all reports as soon as they are received to solve any inspection issues that may arise Meet the appraiser at the property to help prevent any problems with appraised value Negotiate any repair items requested Arrange for any repairs needed that have been negotiated Follow up on buyer’s loan process to ensure a timely close Attend the final walk-through Send an estimated closing statement to you prior to closing to that you may review all of the information Attend the signing of the final papers
What a fantastic experience my wife Liz and I had working with Joe and Linda Szabo. They listed, showed, sold and closed our 2 homes in the Scottsdale area within 60 days and really helped us to meet all our deadlines on our new home in Clearwater, Florida. Selling a house (let alone two) is a stressful experience and the Szabos led us through the process effortlessly. They were instrumental in getting us the highest price in our neighborhood for the homes we sold. They are total pros and it shows. We are VERY pleased with the Szabos and as a result will be recommending your RE/MAX office (and the Szabos!!) to everyone we know. It is this kind of customer service, attention to detail and caring personal attention that makes people feel terrific enough to take time out to write personal letters like this. You have a real pair of jems in Joe and Linda Szabo. Having bought and sold 5 different homes in the past 10 years, I can without a doubt say that our experience with them was the BEST realty experience we have EVER had. Greg and Liz M.
THE ESCROW PROCESS What is an escrow? An escrow is a neutral, independent account created to process a transaction such as a sale or loan. It protects the interests of all parties involved and favors neither the buyer nor seller. An escrow is created after the Purchase Contract is executed and becomes the depository for all monies, instructions and documents pertaining to the transaction.
Opening an escrow Either real estate agent may open escrow as soon as the Purchase Contract is executed by placing the initial deposit (earnest money) in an escrow account at the Title Company.
Information you need to provide You will be asked to complete a Statement of Identity for the Title Company. This is a confidential tool used to correctly identify all parties involved in the transaction.
Title companies and escrow officers Title companies in Arizona offer escrow services. An escrow officer is employed by the title company to handle the escrow transaction. Your escrow officer is a “neutral third party” and follows instructions based on the written terms of your Purchase Contract and the lender’s requirements for closing. Her/his job is to gather all the documents and information from all involved parties to prepare for the transfer of the property. The escrow officer secures the satisfaction of all requirements of the title commitment. Escrow cannot be completed until all terms and conditions have been met. The buyer should be aware of and willing to help with any portions of this closing process where assistance is needed. The duties of the escrow officer are as follows:
Accept executed contract and issue earnest money receipt Request a commitment for title insurance (shows requirements for issuance of a title policy) Obtain payoffs to clear title Prorate taxes and insurance upon instruction from the seller and buyer Accept hazard insurance policy, inspection reports, and relevant bills Compute settlement figures Assist the buyer and seller when signing documents Record the appropriate documents with the county recorder Disburse final documents and money on the basis of mutual instructions
THE ESCROW PROCESS Offers to Purchase Whether the offer is presented in person or by fax, if it doesn't result in an immediate acceptance, we will counsel you on an appropriate response. We take pride in our abilities to negotiate the best possible deal on your behalf. Upon acceptance of the offer, we will oversee the transaction ensuring that all mortgage and inspection contingencies are met and that your property successfully reaches close of escrow.
Estimated Proceeds We will provide you with a estimate of the general closing costs and net equity proceeds that you can expect from the sale of your home. The proceeds will vary according to the actual sales price and other negotiable terms of the sale.
The Contract We suggest that you review the Purchase Contract well in advance of receiving any offers. When you receive an offer, the last thing that you want is to slow down the negotiation process because of confusion about some portion of the contract. Also, if there is anything very important to you that you want included in the agreement, we must be in a position to explain that to the potential client up front.
The Closing Process We will be in continuous contact with your buyers and their representatives to ensure that the process goes smoothly. If necessary, we can provide a list of trades people who can do small repairs quickly and at reasonable cost. We will also do a pre-audit of your HUD-1 Settlement Statement to assure that all monies are distributed to the appropriate party.
After Sale Service We wont forget you after you move! We will contact you to take care of any remaining details or service needs. Customer satisfaction is our highest priority. In part, this is because the two primary sources of our business are repeat customers and their referrals and we are fully aware that neither of these opportunities will occur unless our clients are pleased with our service. Feel free to contact us at anytime about any question you might have.
MOVING CHECKLIST PREVIOUS RESIDENCE PREPARING FOR THE MOVE Leave keys, garage door openers, gate remotes, instructions manuals for new owner Travel funds (cash & checks) Defrost Refrigerator Prepare pet transportation Personally transport valuables, jewelry & important documents ADDRESS CHANGE: 2 to 3 weeks prior to moving Bank accounts Forward address at post office Credit cards Magazines/Publications (6 to 8 weeks prior to moving) CANCEL UTILITIES: CHECK FOR REFUNDS Electric/gas Telephone Water Garbage Removal Cable Misc. - bottled water, propane, newspapers, etc. DOCUMENTS TO OBTAIN Schools transcripts (some districts require that they be send directly from prior school) Medical records Dental records Veterinary records Insurance company (notify company of new locations for coverage: life, health, fire & auto) *Make sure home owners coverage for your new home is in place!
NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS CHANGE Ask post office to hold mail for your arrival ACTIVATE UTILTIES Electric/gas Telephone Water Garbage Removal Cable Misc. - bottled water, propane, newspapers, etc.
SCHOOLS, LICENSES & SERVICES Register children in school Register to vote Register your car & get new license plates Driver’s license (apply or new address) OBTAIN NEW MEDICAL SERVICES New doctor New dentist New vet
I want to send you a huge thank you for all that you did to support me and my wife Kathy during our recent sale of our home in Scottsdale, AZ! Not only are you professional in your handling of such an important transaction, but you have been terrific to work with. Let’s begin with your approach to Marketing our home. The pictures of the home made it look even better than what we know the home to be with the attention to detail and a topnotch photographer who knows how to put it all together. In addition, you know how to “stage” a home properly, taking out unnecessary clutter and getting it ready to sell. Secondly, you are knowledgeable not only of the local area, but your experience gives you a great deal of credibility when it comes to establishing a suggested selling price. Not only that, you are willing to take into account the seller’s situation and will work with the seller to come to a fair and reasonable starting point. Thirdly, the feedback you receive from prospective agents and buyers is taken seriously and you take that into account when making suggestions to the seller as to what can be done to sell the house more expeditiously and at a higher price. Finally, when it comes to negotiating the sale, you know your business! You have the right balance with getting a fair price and still making the sell. We were in a difficult market and you did everything you could to balance reality with the seller’s needs. If we had to do it all over again, we would not hesitate to hire both you and Linda to sell our home! In fact, we wish you were able to assist us with buying our home now that we have moved to the Midwest. All in all, we had a great experience with you and your associates and wish you nothing but the best in the years ahead. And, if we decide we need to move back to where the sun shines 320 days out of the year, we will call you first without hesitation!
Bill and Kathy S.
Joe and Linda Szabo Joe Direct 480.688.2020 Linda Direct 480.688.3344 Joe@AZLuxuryHomes.com Linda@AZLuxuryHomes.com
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