Agent-to-Agent Closing Courtesy While the Seller is busy passing house keys, garage door openers, etc. to the Buyer at closing, the Buyer’s agent often is transferring something to the listing agent, representing the Seller: the listing agent’s lockbox (no, the correct answer isn’t, “a flask of whiskey”). As a courtesy, Buyers’ agents will often ask...Read More
Being There — Literally — For Clients I suppose there are Realtors who miss their clients’ closings. But, I’m not one of them. Would you miss a kid’s graduation? A family member’s birthday party? OK, so a real estate closing may not be quite so momentous. But, after working side by side with someone closely...Read More
Neighbors: ‘Somebody Mow the %#$!#& Grass Already’ “The king is dead. Long live the king.” Usually after a home sale closes, the new owner gets the keys, the moving truck shows up a few days (or hours) later, and life in the neighborhood quickly resumes, albeit a little differently than before. And then there’s what...Read More
House Keys? Check. Garage Door Opener(s)? Check. Security Code for Disconnected Alarm System? Huh?!? Up until three years ago, I didn’t see the point of having Sellers tell Buyers the code for an inactive security system — in some cases, for more than 20(!) years. But then, not one but two homes I sold had dormant...Read More
Buyers’ Lists — and Realtors’ It’s common for Buyers — especially first-time Buyers — to let their family and friends know just after they’ve successfully closed on the purchase of their home. But, Realtors also keep a list of people to call, post-closing (at least, I do). Who’s on it? “So, What’d it Sell For??”...Read More
Anyone closing on the sale of their home today may be puzzled why the pay-off amount in their HUD-1 (closing statement) exceeds their current (online) mortgage balance. The explanation? Banks assume that they won’t receive the proceeds from closing until the next business day — and therefore keep the “interest meter” running. Ordinarily, that would...Read More
