2024 - Story House Real Estate Seller's Guide

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AR VALUED CLIENT,

are honored and grateful that you considering Story House Real Estate ell your home Our mission is to vide a welcoming real estate erience and build lifelong tionships, by creating raving fans, passing expectations, and positively acting lives.

guide is designed to explain and plify giving you an overview of our m, an outline of the step-by-step cess of selling your home, and wing you how our home selling ems produce results.

take great care to ensure that you e a wonderful experience, while ating lasting personal relationship ond the sale of your home.

are delighted and thankful for the ortunity to serve you

STORY HOUSE REAL ESTATE was founded on our belief that every home and every buyer and seller have a unique story to tell With every new contact we receive, a page is being turned.

Whether it is the new home buyer, just beginning one of the most exciting new chapters in their lives, or the retiree moving into the last chapter of homeownership and downsizing, we cherish the ability to be a part of the journey

Story House recognizes that no home sale is quite the same as the one before it That is why we have procured a team of the best professionals in real estate that are dedicated to helping you navigate the next chapter of your life

We look forward to helping you write your next chapter

MEET OUR

team

our mission

We aim to delight and surprise our clients deliver

listing partners

SASHA TRIPP

PRINCIPAL BROKER, OWNER

sasha@storyhousere.com (434) 216-6331

Sasha Tripp is the owner and founder of Story House Real Estate and has been recognized in numerous local and national polls and accolades She has been named by Inman Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in real estate, was selected by REALTOR® magazine as one of the Top 30 REALTORS Under 30 in the nation, was the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year in 2018, Sales Associate of the Year in 2012, and Rookie of the Year in 2008

Sasha is also an international real estate speaker and trainer – her experience and knowledge that she gathers from the other best real estate agents in the industry provide the team with invaluable marketing expertise, fresh ideas, and positions Story House on the leading edge of technology and strategy for our clients and partners

In the day-to-day functions of the team, Sasha handles all negotiations and strategy for all of our listings, to ensure a consistent, reliable marketing plan for every home. Her 15+ years of expertise and oversight of 200+ transactions a year provides her with relevant market knowledge and insight to overcome problems and surprises during the transaction and help get you successfully from the sign in the yard to the closing table

MADISON YOUNG LISTING PARTNER

madison@storyhousere.com (434) 216-6332

Madison Young is the Listing Partner for Story House Real Estate. She is the boots-on-the-ground first point of contact for all of our listing clients and will be the one guiding you through the home preparation, pre-listing, and active listing stages of your selling experience

Madison is extremely organized and highly communicative each step of the way - doing her due diligence to gather and prepare all home information, coordinating any pre-listing contractors or repairs, arranging the photoshoot, overseeing showings, responding to buyer agent inquiries, preparing and managing the listing, as well as providing weekly updates to you on how your listing is progressing. She is intimately familiar with each of our homes and will be there for you when you need her

Madison and Sasha work hand-in-hand to provide a seamless experience for the seller Between Madison’s attention to detail, and structured listing process and Sasha’s well-seasoned pricing, marketing and negotiating experience, you can rest assured that you and your home are in the best possible hands

ann@storyhousere com (434) 216-6267

The moment your home goes under contract, Ann steps into the process as our transaction coordinator Her sole job on the team is to coordinate dates, deadline contingencies, and all of the parties to the contract to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks and to avoid any surprises We have 250+ tasks to complete for every closing, and it’s her job to make sure they are handled smoothly, without stress on our clients Ann communicates with our clients weekly to check in with them and answer their questions Your closing with our team should be smooth and stress- free, allowing you to focus on the packing and moving!

ng and rhetoric to accompany all visual us on creating and shaping branded assets, our social media and digital and printed with the optimized components to guarantee the greatest outreach for our listings Through the use of clear, concise, correct, and creative rhetoric in our social media stories, email campaigns, and post captions, Nadirah is able to market your home to its ideal audience.

the story house difference

MAKES THE

Our business model is shaped around a team structure That means everyone you come in contact with is working together, each with a defined role, to help you There are no independent agents; everyone works for Story House Real Estate We’ve developed a team structure because we believe this is the best way to provide consistent “Wow” service every time. Our clients feel genuinely cared for since there is an expert for every facet of their transaction. Together, we create more success and better results; a win-win situation for your dreams

“Every member of your team was committed to supporting us and everyone answered any question we asked with expertise and in a most respectful manner We always felt heard with sensitivity to the stresses of the process We appreciate Sasha and team for always being client- centered All decisions were made cooperatively and were based on our needs, wants, and comfort levels Sasha and team shared their expertise, which is outstanding, and then let us make the final decisions ”

-THE MCFARLANDS

WHY WORK WITH A TEAM?

Why have just one person doing the legwork to get your home sold when you can have a whole team behind you? It’s nearly impossible for a single agent to give you the attention that you deserve, when the hundreds of tasks necessary to market and sell your home for top dollar require a wide array of skills With the largest sale of your life, you should have a team of specialized professionals by your side

OTHER REALTORS

MEET THE APPRAISER

STAGE HOMES RETURN EMAILS

INSTALL SIGNAGE

COORDINATE ATTORNEY PRINT MARKETING KNOW MARKET STATS WEEKLY UPDATES ORDER HOA PACKAGE

SCHEDULE INSPECTIONS CALL INTERESTED BUYERS

LIST HOMES SCHEDULE SHOWINGS

INDIVIDUAL AGENT

TRANSLATE INSPECTION REPORTS LIST PROPERTIES IN THE MLS WRITE NEWSLETTERS MANAGE FULL WALK THROUGH SEND CONTRACT TO TITLE COMPANY PROVIDE SHOWING FEEDBACK

PHOTOGRAPH HOME COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS SHOW HOMES SET UP MLS SEARCH

MEET WITH INSPECTORS

INSTALL LOCK BOXES

ANSWER PHONE CALLS

VERIFY COMPLETION OF REPAIRS

SOCIAL & DIGITAL ADVERTISING LIST HOMES

NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS

STORY HOUSE TEAM MODEL

At Story House Real Estate, we revolve around our clients, and our proven systems allow us to provide a seamless, effective, and efficient home selling experience

Sales Partners

Errin, Josh, Brentney, Zoya, Aaron, Mary Anna, Jess, & Abby

Principal Broker Sasha

Brand & Marketing Nadirah

CLIENTS

Listing Partner Madison

Transaction Coordinator Ann

the promise

To work as a team to ensure a smooth and seamless transaction from start to finish.

To exceed expectations

To make every effort to be proactive and limit surprises.

To provide exceptional service by being honest, loyal, understanding and attentive.

To guarantee an outstanding Story House experience for each client, one worthy of recommending to friends and family.

RECENT SALES AT A GLANCE

WE GIVE WHERE WE LIVE

At the end of a real estate sale with our team, Story House makes a donation on behalf of each closed client to a charity of their choice

Something that we are passionate about is making sure that Charlottesville continues to be a wonderful place to live, work and play. Story House Real Estate is proud to support a local charity with every closing. We are so thankful for our amazing clients and the incredible opportunity to improve and support the community we call home Additionally, every quarter, our team takes a day to give back to our community through charities that are close to our hearts We partner with our trusted service providers, our friends and family, and our clients to leave a life-changing impact on the community we call home.

Each of these charities benefited from Story House Real Estate in 2023 They were either recipients of our “Give Where You Live” campaign or recipients of our volunteer time.

OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT IN 2023

VOLUNTEER HOURS

$45,000 DONATED LOCALLY

25+

EVENTS HOSTED & SPONSORED 250+

OUR MARKETING strategy

your listing timeline

INITIAL WALK THROUGH

This is when we move through your home with you and provide staging advice, a list of pre- listing and pre-photoshoot ‘to do’s,’ preliminary pricing, a sample listing timeline, and more Additionally, this is a wonderful opportunity to have all of your questions answered! We will come prepared with a data-driven market report that is specific to your home, preliminary pricing and comparable listings, a sample listing agreement, ’seller homework’ forms, marketing samples, and more!

POST-WALKTHROUGH PRICING

After we have had the chance to see your home and take detailed notes, we will re-run updated comparables and will send our final thoughts and suggestions on list price, as well as data to support our suggestions! Thereafter, we will create a net sales spreadsheet detailing the miscellaneous costs affiliated with selling a home, as well as your anticipated costs and proceeds at our suggested list price

LISTING DOCUMENTS SIGNED & PHOTOS & VENDORS SCHEDULED

Once the listing agreement is signed, we are able to move forward with reserving your photoshoot date and time, drafting up your listing, coordinating any pre-listing vendors, and moving forward with listing your home

MLS LISTING APPROVED

Next, we send you the drafted listing for your review and edits in order to ensure that it is 100% accurate prior to moving into ‘Coming Soon’ status!

COMING SOON STATUS

Your listing will move into ‘Coming Soon’ status at the beginning of the week, as soon as photos are received ‘Coming Soon’ is an internal status within the MLS, not yet public, that permits us to begin marketing and advertising your home We market ‘Coming Soon’ all week long so that by the time your listing moves into Active status at the end of the week, any buyer or agent who is searching the market for a home like yours is fully aware of your listing and will be able to plan to show it right away

ACTIVE STATUS

Your listing will move into ‘Active’ status for showings to begin by appointment We hope that the first showing weekend will be a busy one

MARKETING

We have a full-time in-house brand and marketing team who creates and distributes consistent and branded ‘coming soon,’ ’new listing,’ ‘open house’, and ‘featured listing’ marketing (and more!), while your listing is moving its way through to the process. The next few pages will share some of those highlights.

OPEN HOUSE

If appropriate, a public open house will occur the first weekend that showings are permitted A buyer agent on our team will host the open house, allowing for any unrepresented buyer who attends to be able to speak to them and have assistance in submitting an offer if they wish!

sample timeline

OFFERS REVIEWED

If we choose, we may inform agents that any offers received will be reviewed and responded to on a specific date. This means that we will not be forced to accept the first offer that comes in, and can instead evaluate all offers to begin comparing their details in a well- organized side-by-side offer comparison Sasha handles all offer negotiations and assists you through this process, so that you are fully- informed while making decisions. If multiple offers arrive, a bidding war begins If no offers are received, then marketing and showings continue until we are under contract

This is an example of our standard timeline, but this timeline can be compressed into as few as 5 days.

WEDNESDAY

‘COMING SOON’ MARKETING INITIATES OFFERS REVIEWED, MARKETING ANALYTICS SENT TO SELLER

THURSDAY

INITIAL WALKTHROUGH IF NO OFFERS RECEIVED YET, SHOWINGS & MARKETING CONTINUES

DRAFTEDLISTING SENTTOSELLERFOR REVIEW

PRICING, TIMELINE & PRE-LISTING ‘TO DO’S’ CONFIRMED

KEYS PICKED UP FROM SELLER, LOCKBOXES PREPARED, SELLER HOMEWORK RECEIVED FRIDAY SHOWINGS BEGIN

LISTING GOES ACTIVE, ‘NEW LISTING’ MARKETING INITIATES

LISTING DOCS SIGNED, PHOTOSHOOT & VENDORS SCHEDULED

PHOTOSHOOT & VIRTUAL VIDEO TOUR SHOOT, LISTING DRAFT FINALIZED

SATURDAY

our marketing strategy

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Photos of your home are of the utmost importance They are the first impression buyers get of a property Potential buyers don’t begin by reading the details they look at the pictures Photos can make or break a home sale so you’ll never see us taking photos with our smartphones. We only have professional photographers using state-of-the-art equipment because as they say a picture is worth a thousand words

PROPERTY BROCHURES

We want buyers to leave your home with something memorable; therefore, we have professionally designed brochures with several photos placed throughout the home

TARGETED EMAIL CAMPAIGN

With 1,000+ agents in the Charlottesville area all juggling a handful of different clients at any given time, it can be challenging to keep up with every new listing that comes onto the market. Within 24 hours of your home being listed, we will send a customized email campaign to the entire Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® With this, we can not only highlight the home and announce it to our co-brokering agents, but also add more detail about who may be a good buyer for this home Our targeted email campaigns ensure that no detail is missed, and allows us to highlight what may otherwise be overlooked

SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE

We have a strong social media presence with over 30,000 followers between our Facebook & Instagram accounts You can rest assured knowing that your property is getting maximum exposure in the social sphere

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS | 9,500+ FACEBOOK FANS | 16,000+

EMAIL SUBSCRIBER COUNT | 4,500+

AERIAL DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY

With our use of professional photographers and skilled drone pilots, we are able to provide a new level of visual storytelling for your home. Aerial drone photography captures a unique perspective that can't be seen from the ground. It highlights the scale of your property, its proximity to desirable locations, and its stunning outdoor features These captivating shots capture your home’s full potential, making it stand out and attracting potential buyers

VIRTUAL WALK THROUGH VIDEOGRAPHY

Our virtual walk-through videography allows buyers to explore your home online, room by room, just like they would in person. This technology opens the door to a wider audience, attracting more interest and giving buyers the confidence to make an offer. By providing an immersive, interactive experience, buyers can fall in love with your home before they even schedule a showing.

OUR WEBSITE

Our website is equipped with individual property pages for your listing, as well as search engines that allow for our site visitors to find homes within a specific price range, neighborhood, school district, and property type or size Our site provides many resources for home buyers that make it a heavily utilized real estate resource for Central Virginia

Our search engine optimization is closely monitored to ensure we are at the top of the search results for people looking for real estate in the area. This means our listings receive massive online exposure

INTERNET MARKETING

When you list with us, we’ll give your listing the attention it deserves across many of the most popular internet platforms such as CAAR MLS, Zillow, Homesnap, Realtor.com, social media sites, LinkedIn, and more!

and more!

national & local exposure

NATIONWIDE FOLLOWING

Sasha has previously been selected by REALTOR® magazine as one of the Top 30 REALTORS Under 30 This honor is representative of her knowledge and experience in the Real Estate business She is an international real estate speaker & instructor to thousands of REALTORS® and entrepreneurs in all 50 states and several countries.

Her large following among national and international REALTORS® drives our digital exposure numbers, resulting in more traffic to your home

REAL

Real Broker is North America's fastest-growing, publicly traded brokerage on a mission to revolutionize the residential real estate industry

Our partnership with REAL provides us with the benefit of becoming part of a national referral network of solid, top producing agents

The REAL private label model lets us stay 100% Story House and continue to give our clients the best experience while benefiting from national affiliation and marketing exposure Our brand, look, reputation, and mission to “delight and surprise our clients” remains consistent, all while ensuring more exposure and attention is brought to your home

UVA ALUMNI

In addition to our deeply routed connections to Charlottesville, Sasha is also an alumni of the University of Virginia (UVA). Sasha stays connected with classmates, friends, and fellow UVA alumni through various social platforms and UVA events Her personal connection to the University provides a one click reach to thousands of alumni at any given time We also utilize placement in several of UVAs digital and print media outlets that reach hundreds of thousands of alumni, family, and friends across the world

CONNECTION TO VIRGINIA’S AGENTS

80% of homes in Central Virginia are bought by someone who currently lives in Virginia This is a staggering statistic In addition to our exposure through our MLS, Sasha also maintains a close relation to several REALTORS® in surrounding regions and all across Virginia Several members of our Story House family hold seats and are avid volunteers with many boards including Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS®, Virginia Association of REALTORS®, and Charlottesville Women’s Council.

Our team strives to maintain the highest standard of communication between our clients and our fellow agents in the Charlottesville and surrounding communities We have many referral partners and connections all across the state to help drive traffic to our listings and attract the right buyer to your home

scheduling & feedback

We use a scheduling program called ShowingTime to streamline showing appointments * We never miss a showing! The service will reach out to you immediately and via your preferred mode of contact to confirm any upcoming appointments The ShowingTime app will notify you and our team when a showing has begun and when the showing finishes.

When a showing is completed, we immediately request feedback from the showing agent

*If your home is vacant, we inform agents to show at their leisure Our 24/7 staffed showings scheduler will be notified of the showing and will immediately request feedback from the showing agent.

CANDID FEEDBACK

The point of receiving feedback, positive or negative, is to follow up and grow a relationship with potential buyers We stay on top of all showing agents to get feedback on what they thought about the property and find out if they have any additional questions or objections we can help overcome.

SCHEDULING TOURS OF YOUR HOME WEEKLY

OPEN COMMUNICATION

Our team uses a simple app (a free download on your smart phone), that allows our sellers quick access to our team, file sharing, scheduling showings, sharing showing feedback, and communicating market stats

This platform is a place where we can all send notes and updates to each other, providing you with a much more responsive experience as well as nearly immediate access to us during business hours.

This is a data-update with information on how many people clicked on your property on the biggest listing sites online This also updates you on how your social media and email campaigns perform, as well as provides you with a running count of the number of showings that you have received.

preparing your home

GETTING YOUR HOME READY

TO SHOW A HOME SELLER’S CHECKLIST

INTERIOR

CLEAN: DOORS WINDOWS LIGHTSWITCHES

BASEBOARDS/CHAIRRAILS CARPETS DRAPERIES

PAINT: PAINT/REPAIRROOMSINNEUTRAL COLORSASNEEDED

OTHERTASKS:

REMOVE/PULLBACKDARKCURTAINS LUBRICATESQUEAKYDOORHINGES CLEANCEILINGFANS

CHECKFORCOBWEBSINALL CORNERS

FIXSCRATCHESINWOODENFLOORS REPAIR/REPLACEBROKENFLOORING USEAREARUGS,IFNEEDED EMPTYWASTEBASKETS

MAKEBEDS FLUFFORREPLACEACCENTPILLOWS

KITCHEN

KEEPDISHESANDFOODOUTOF SIGHT

CLEANAPPLIANCES

SWEEP/MOP CLEANLIGHTFIXTURES

TESTELECTRICALOUTLETS

ELIMINATECOOKINGODORS

DEODORIZEGARBAGEDISPOSAL, DISHWASHER,ANDREFRIGERATOR CLEANCUPBOARDSANDUNDERSINK REPLACEGARBAGEDISPOSALGASKET TOREDUCENOISE

BATHROOMS

REMOVESOAPRESIDUE,MILDEW, ANDMOLDFROMSURFACES CLEANOUTCABINETS;REMOVENONESSENTIALS

KEEPFRESH,CLEANTOWELSON TOWELRACK

CLEAN/LUBRICATESHOWERDOOR REPLACESHOWERCURTAIN CLEANEXHAUSTFAN,HEATER; REPLACEIFBROKENORNOISY

CLOSET

KEEPCLOSETSCLEANANDFREE FROMCLUTTER

THROWOUTORPACKAWAYNONESSENTIALS

BASEMENT

ELIMINATEANYSIGNSOFDAMPNESS CHECKFORANDELIMINATECRACKS

LAUNDRY AREA

CLEANOUTAREABEHIND WASHER/DRYER

ELIMINATEANYMILDEWODORS

ADDITIONAL TIPS

CLEAN EVERYTHING

Cleanlinesssignalstoa buyerthatthehomehas beenwellcaredforandis mostlikelyingoodrepair Amessyhomewillcause buyerstonoticeeveryflaw

FRESH PAINT

There’snothingthatimproves thevalueofahomemore thanafewcansofpaint And, it’softenmucheasiertopaint aroomthanitistoscrubit Stickwithneutralcolors

UNCLUTTER

Theless“stuff”inand aroundahome,the roomieritwillseem Buyerswillalsonotbe distractedbyyour personalitems

GARAGE/SHED

CLEANANDUNCLUTTER PUTAWAYTOOLS CLEARANYCOBWEBS REMOVEOIL/PAINTSTAINSFROM FLOOR

LUBRICATE/ADJUST/REPAIRGARAGE DOOROPENER

HEATING/AC UNIT

REPLACEFILTER CLEANINTAKEVENT

EXTERIOR

REPLACE, REPAIR, PAINT ANY DAMAGED: PLASTER WOODSIDING GUTTERS SHUTTERS DOORS

WINDOWFRAMES SCREENS WATERSPIGOTS STREETNUMBERON HOUSE/MAILBOX/SIGN FENCE/GATES OUTDOORLIGHTING

CLEAN: SIDING WINDOWS/SCREENS PETDROPPINGS OUTDOORBBQ POOL/SPA SERVICEAREA/TRASHCANS HAULAWAYGARBAGE/DEBRIS STRAIGHTENWOODPILE TESTDOORBELL CLEANOILSTAINSFROMDRIVEWAY

FRESH AIR & BRIGHT LIGHT

Iftheweatherisnice,openthewindows Freshflowersandlightpotpourrican alsobeusedtoyouradvantage Open theblinds Putbrighterbulbsinallthe lamps Bright,openroomsfeellarger andmoreinviting

ASK OUR TEAM FOR OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDED VENDOR LIST FOR SOME OF OUR FAVORITE RESOURCES.

we have an offer!

ACCEPTING AN OFFER

Great news! We did an awesome job marketing your home and you have accepted an offer. Now what? There are three hurdles we will tackle for you.

HURDLE #1

THE INSPECTION PERIOD

Once the contract has been accepted, the Buyer’s Agent will schedule a home inspection. A licensed inspector will come to your house and perform a thorough inspection of the major systems and cosmetic code items. The inspector will prepare a 30-40 page report with details and photos. The Buyer’s Agent typically reviews the findings with the Buyer afterwards. The inspection appointment takes 3-6 hours. The inspector’s job is to inform the buyers of potential risk factors the home imposes.

HURDLE #2

THE HOME INSPECTION REMOVAL

The Buyer’s Agent will submit a Home Inspection Removal Contingency Addendum (HIRCA) listing the items they would like corrected by the Seller in order to move forward with the purchase of the home. We will present this document to you and discuss what items you are willing to repair. This can be negotiable and is a condition of the purchase moving forward. At this step, the Buyer can cancel if they are not satisfied with the inspection of the home.

HURDLE #3

THE APPRAISAL

The Buyer’s lender will order an appraisal of the property which will be submitted to their underwriting department. This order is now placed with a pool of appraisers which no one has any control over The appraiser will make an appointment to view your property and take pictures They will prepare a 50-page report giving their professional valuation of your home Sometimes the appraisal will come in at the price you and the Buyer agreed to, sometimes it comes in higher, and there is a chance it can come in lower. If this occurs, we can discuss options such as requesting the appraisal to be reviewed or re-negotiate the price of the house. Per the Purchase Contract, the Buyer often has five days after the notice of the appraised value to cancel the contract and receive their earnest money back or they can waive the appraisal contingency

We are here to assist you throughout the process and be in your corner to service and protect you. We have handled hundreds of transactions, so we have the experience to guide you through yours.

escrow meet

THE PROCESS

TRANSACTION COORDINATOR

CONTRACT TO CLOSE ANN HUMPHRIES

There are seven major steps that happen from contract to close Our transaction coordinator will be by your side every step of the way

Use this detailed list of the steps to follow along through the contract to close process

INITIATION

CONFIRMATION

Within 1-2 business days upon receipt of the Purchase and Sale Agreement: Closing Agent will open the transaction file using information provided by the Purchase and Sale Agreement

• Closing Agent will request information from the lender(s)

• Closing Agent will confirm the Title has been ordered Our Transaction Coordinator will forward the mutually accepted Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Closing Company or Attorney

VERIFICATION

All information needed to close the file must be received one week before closing: Closing Agent will receive the Title report.

• Review of Title report for any problems

• Clear all Title issues; such as Deeds of Trust, Liens, and Judgments.

• Request information on homeowners dues, utilities, and taxes.

PREPARATION

48 to 72 hours before closing:

• Receipt of lender loan documents

• Closer to prepare any documents needed to close the file. Closer will send estimated settlement statement to the Lender(s) or Agent(s) for review

SIGNING/REVIEW

Day of closing:

• Final closing conditions are met for the lender

• Buyer(s) and Seller(s) sign their documents

• Signing documents are notarized, reviewed, and returned to the lender for final underwriting and approval

“The process was incredibly quick and easy I was shocked by all the interest in the listing on just the first day My home sold in less than a week for more than asking price. I honestly could not have dealt with a more competent, professional, friendly team ”

-THE ANDERSON’S

• Funds to be collected from Buyer(s) or Seller(s) to close the transaction.

RELEASE OF FUNDS + DEED

The day of closing:

• Receipt of lender documents

• Approval from the lender to release the transaction for recording.

Title company to release deed to record

CLOSING

Upon receipt of lenders’ funds and recording:

• Agent(s) notified

• Buyer(s) and Seller(s) notified of closing

• Disbursement of all closing funds

• Final Settlement Statement to all parties as instructed

YOUR CLOSING UPDATES!

Your Transaction Coordinator will set up your individual online transaction portal for your purchase Here you can stay up to date with deadlines, access documents, and follow alongside the team as they progress towards the big day!

Contract/Executed Date

Settlement Agent/Attorney

Selected/Contract Delivered

Earnest Money Deposit

Earnest Money Deposit Received

HOA Documents Received

HOA Document Review Period Concludes

Home Inspection Scheduled Date

Appraisal Schedule Date

Home Inspection Contingency Removed

Appraisal Received

Utility Information Provided Loan Commitment Final Walk Through Date Wire Final Funds

Signing Appointment Date

Inspection Period Expiration Appraisal Deadline

Close Date

Buyer Agent Contact Information

Transaction Coordinator Contact Information Full Access to Documents

FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSE

WE ARE BY YOUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Once we have negotiated and signed your contract, our next goal is to stay on top of each and every step of the process to ensure your property sale closes successfully There are many pieces to the closing process, you can be confident that our team will manage them all We will continue to keep you up to date throughout the process and will work diligently to ensure that the closing is as smooth and problem-free as can be

“The Story House team has now shepherded us through six sales and purchases of houses in Charlottesville, and the experience has only gotten better with each transaction Story House is a well-oiled machine that makes the process of buying or selling a home both an art and a science Each member of the team takes on a different part of the complex process and makes it as simple and painless as possible for the homeowner/homebuyer. Our latest sale and purchase came at an extremely challenging time in our lives The utmost kindness, compassion, and professionalism with which we were treated eased us through the process The RealScale timelines we were given, the well-researched comp spreadsheets that were prepared for us, and the always timely/prompt communication made us feel confident that we were in the very best of hands. The Story House team has deep roots in Charlottesville. They know the market. They have connections with local contractors and are able to muster their help when needed at short notice It’s obvious that they genuinely like each other, care about the Charlottesville community, and love what they do I can’t imagine a better real estate experience, but I’m willing to bet Story House will surprise me again by somehow managing to make our next real estate transaction even better.”

-THE BIRD’S

CONGRATS! IT’S CLOSING DAY!

Congrats!

You’ve made it! With the help of Story House Real Estate, you were able to jump through all the hurdles of the home-buying process and begin your next chapter Congratulations!

Though we’re closing this chapter, we still aim to be a part of your story You are not entering homeownership alone! Any future real estate goals you may have, including interest in investment properties, second homes, moving outside of the area and looking for referrals to other markets statewide, nationally, or globally, or anything at all, we are here as your advisors and advocates for life!

The home-buying process is such an exciting time, congratulations on this enormous accomplishment! Our main goal as a client and service-oriented company is to give as many people a great real estate experience as possible If our time together proves worthy of recommending us to the people in your sphere, we would love the opportunity to connect with your family and friends!

be a client for life, STAY CONNECTED.

If you need help with anything home related now or in the future, you will have access to our full network of vendors and real estate professionals. There is no one you won’t be able to call or connect with, just by being a part of the Story House Family.

We are well-connected with several local businesses and services and we would be happy to connect you with our most trusted vendors!

Contractors, Repair Work, Remodel, Home Inspector, HVAC

Plumbing, Septic Inspection, Well Inspections

Landscaping, Land Survey, Environmental Consultant

Electrical Repairs and Updates, Lighting

Indoor/Outdoor Painting, Stucco

Roof Repair, Deck & Fence Building, Structural Engineer

Cleaning, Disposal, Power Washing, Carpet Cleaning

Movers, Local Appliance Delivery & Repair

Interior Design, Window Coverings

Insurance, Refinance

“Our experience with Story House was wonderful from start to finish We were on a very fast time line, and Sasha and Madison were extremely responsive right out of the gate. Whenever we had a question, it was answered right away The whole team did a great job of helping each other out to make sure our needs were met, and that we weren’t left waiting At one point, when the market didn’t seem to be responding, Sasha spent a great deal of time walking us through the various options and helping us decide next steps When she learned that it was Anna’s birthday that day, she sent a lovely arrangement of flowers Two days later, we got an offer! Ann was also very supportive, helpful, and responsive as we moved from contract to closing. I can’t say enough good things about how Story House made a very stressful process less daunting In addition, all of the service providers they recommended to us were outstanding I would recommend Story House to anyone looking for real estate support, without hesitation.”

“You all were simply awesome Every single person on the team was responsive, went way above and beyond the call, and worked really hard to get our house sold We felt like you all were honest, upfront, clear, and hardworking I would 100% recommend you to anyone ”

-REBECCA ROBBINS

“Everything was handled expertly! We loved that it was a true team that allows people to excel in their role. It helped us feel that nothing slipped through the cracks It gave us a better experience than working with a single realtor who handles all aspects of the transaction ”

- RANDI & THOMAS MCGOWAN

“From start to finish, the Store House team excelled with everything Madison was great about helping us choose contractors to get the home ready for listing She kept us in the loop on showings and our open house, sharing feedback and interest. Sasha’s communication was clear and provided all the necessary information to help us choose which offer to accept And then, Ann! Ann patiently walked us through each step of the closing process She made what we expected

to be an overwhelming process, very smooth It was such a great selling experience We always felt informed, and the Story House team kept us on track every step of the way. Story House excelled at communication -- easy to work with would be an understatement! Story House was incredible to work with ”

“From setting list price to staging to photography to open houses to renting back to move out cleaning, Story House made this complicated and stressful process so much more manageable We were able to get an offer on the condo after being in market for 3 short days and closed 30 days after. Through their top notch communication and professionalism, I felt certain that I was taken care of by the best real estate company in town I loved how Madison and Ann made personal connections with me! I loved working with them inside and out and now I get to call them my friends!”

“Selling a home is a difficult process, with a great potential for risk I found this sale to be truly easy I felt no risk at any time Sasha’s team provided me with full confidence from beginning to end Professional guidance concerning listing price, and concerning what offer to accept was key I am totally satisfied the best of all outcomes was achieved ”

“Last month the Story House Team helped my wife and I get our townhouse sold and helped us transition into the purchase of our new home This team of amazing dedicated professionals never stopped working for us and always had our back What an amazing group of people It was our first time buying and selling a house at the same time and they really made us feel confident. There was never a time we felt unsure with anything Someone from their team was always available to help They always had our best interests in their minds Super great people to work with Would highly recommend to anyone ”

“Could not ask for a better and more amazing people to work with on both ends of the deal!! Thank all of y’all at Story House for all you do!”

LOCAL RECOGNITION

Each year, our community hosts competitions among its viewers, listeners, and/or followers to learn who is the best of the best This year, we were nominated in the long-standing Best of C-VILLE competition -- we have won or received runner up for Best Real Estate Agent or Company since 2010! In addition, we were nominated in the inaugural edition of Charlottesville’s Finest This magazine showcases the effort to discover and celebrate the businesses, people, and places our community loves most

Charlottesville’s Finest had over 1,200 businesses, organizations, and individuals competing to be named in the top two spots of 188 categories Story House Real Estate won Charlottesville’s Finest Real Estate Company and Best Customer Service and Sasha Tripp won Charlottesville’s Finest Real Estate Agent.

This year’s Best of C-VILLE boasted 191 categories almost 100 more than in years past! which means nearly 100 new opportunities to recognize the best people, places, and things in our city. We were so thankful to be nominated in 3 different categories including Best Real Estate Agent, Best Real Estate Company and Best Annual Event Josh White, Brentney Kozuch & Sasha Tripp were all nominated for Best Real Estate Agent Our annual Pie Day event was nominated for Best Annual Event and Story House received runner up for Best Real Estate Company

We cannot thank our current & past clients, family, friends, and followers enough for their support.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service We know that who you choose to list your home is a major decision and we are honored to have the opportunity to be considered.

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