In this page you will find:
a . Questions to ask when interviewing agents.
b . Antonio & Alexia’s Marketing plan.
c . What kind of documents you need to have when selling your home.
d . Partial glossary of real estate terms.

When you sign a listing agreement, you actually hand over your house keys to the Realtor you choose! Make sure you know him well and that his reputation and knowledge is something you are familiar with. It is important to hire the right salesperson the first time. The following questions will help you score a winner.

1. How long have you been selling real estate?
The level of experience is extremely important; you agent should be a full-time realtor, because you need his full time attention and potential homebuyers are out there at different times.
2. What professional real estate designations do you have?
The initials that follow their name show their commitment to staying current in the field of real estate, they show that the individual has completed a course of specialty education. Look for the following: GRI, CRS, E-Pro among others.
3. How many homes have you sold in the past year in this neighborhood?
You want to know that the individual knows your area, and that he is active and current in the local real estate market. His knowledge of the neighborhood or lack thereof will have an impact on how he sells your house to potential homebuyers. Ask to see evidence of his recent sales.
4. What is you average list-to-sale-price ratio?
These numbers should be very close to each other, it is important to you because you want to know that the agent will not overprice your listing. This is the most common mistake sellers make.
5. What is the average length of time your listings are on the market?
The longer the time, the more likely the salesperson is not a stickler for marketing nor is he realistic about pricing. There are only two reasons a house will not sell: either the condition is too poor for the asking price or the price is too high compared to similar homes for sale in the area.
6. What specifically will you do to get my home sold?
Expect a detailed plan of action to be already in place, dates of open houses, suggestions about preparing the house for showing, inspections recommended, how often will you hear from the agent once you have given him the listing? Look for a Realtor who can commit to the level and method of communication -e-mail, fax, telephone- you prefer.
7. Tell me about your Marketing Plan; do you have an online presence?
Any Realtor can list your home, but only the one with a specific, time-tested plan already in place can achieve the best results. The online presence is by far the most important for a seller. You should be shown copies of recent advertising materials, color flyers, newspaper advertising, and above all: VISUAL TOURS! Buyers like to see pictures, but they love video tours.
The E-Pro certification after the agent’s name shows that he is Internet savvy. Go for the best!
8. Please give me the names and phone numbers of three sellers you worked with.
Nothing better than checking with the previous clients the Realtor dealt with, these people will be the best reference as to how the agent and his team work. Don’t neglect this part. Call them as ask about their experience selling their house with this agent.


We really like our clients! As soon as you list with us, and within 3 hours of signing the listing agreement, your house will be on the Internet! We are highly trained and prepare these visual tours ourselves, no need for additional appointments with photographers; we can change, add, and modify these tours anytime from our desk. This is a very personalized, and unique service unmatched by our competitors.

We create a very detailed VISUALTOUR of your property with beautiful photographs to attract and hold the viewers attention. This technology allows us to hold an “Open House” on your property 24 hours 7 days a week without disturbing you at all!

This home tour will be placed on our website: www.listedbyAntonio.com From here, prospective homebuyers and other real estate agents can view it, or email it to their clients, friends and relatives regardless of where in the world they are.

In addition, will also make this home tour available to other websites as well as leading Internet Real Estate Sites such as Realtor.com, Homeseekers.com, Yahoo.com and many others.

This Internet home tour attracts thousands of prospective buyers from around the world and around the corner to your property every day!

Within the first 2 days we will:

  • Photograph your home for the Internet ‘s Visual tour.
  • Input your home on the Realtor’s MLS computer system
  • Schedule Brokers Open House
  • Prepare Newspaper advertising
  • Schedule Sunday Open House for the general public
  • Prepare Colorful Flyers to distribute to other Realty offices.
  • Assist you with the preparation of all necessary Disclosures for the buyer
  • Schedule home inspections as needed. We will be present each time.
  • E-mail VISUALTOUR to other Realtors and homebuyers in our database.
   

Our services always include:

  • Twice weekly report, via e-mail, personal visit, or phone call.
  • One of us is always available to you, you will have our cell phone numbers
  • When offers are presented, we will advise and counsel you appropriately
  • As your representatives, we will meet: appraisers, home inspectors, repairmen etc.
  • We are both Notary Publics, and can expedite your signing of documents at home.
  • We advertise and market your property until it sells. Actually, until escrow closes.
  • A personal and quick response to our online and offline advertising.

    When selling a home, sellers are required to have several documents in order to transfer title of the property to the new owners. Here is a partial list. Call or e-mail if you have a question for us.

  • THE CLUE REPORT - Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange Reports

    What is a CLUE Report? CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. It is a comprehensive database of personal property information relating mainly to insurance claims on private property. CLUE was developed by, and is currently operated by, ChoicePoint Asset Co., a Georgia firm.

    If the homeowner has filed too many claims with insurance companies, the buyer of the home might not be able to obtain fire insurance! Fire insurance is a condition of the loan for the house; therefore if there is no fire insurance, no loan, escrow does not close.

    How can an individual obtain a copy of their CLUE report?
    CLUE reports can only be obtained by an individual for the home or property he or she currently owns and resides in. The reports can be obtained from ChoicePoint over the web at www.choicetrust.com or through regular mail. ChoicePoint charges $9.00 for each report requested via standard mail and $12.95 for each electronic report. Buyers are now requesting this report in the original offer in order to make sure that the house qualifies for fire insurance.

  • Information about your present mortgages.
    The title company will need to pay off all loans against the property, copy of the current bills showing loan numbers and the institution that holds the mortgages.
  • Homeowners Association Documents.
    Especially if you live in a condo or townhouse, it is called the CC&R’s, these documents will allow the potential buyer to see what kind of restrictions and conditions are in place. The lenders also have an interest in seeing if there is any kind of litigation.
  • Copies of finalized city permits
    If any additions or remodeling has been done to the property, the appraiser ->> will require a copy of these permits in order to give value to those improvements. The city or county offices can give you a copy.
  • Copy of Family Trust
    If the title of the property is held in any kind of trust, the title company will require seeing this document before title is transferred.
  • Copies of Rental Agreements.
    If the property you are selling has tenants, the buyer and the lender must review all agreements you have with them.

Depending you your particular situation, there might be other documents required when selling your property, just call us if you think we can help you get prepared before selling.


I know that some real estate terms are rather confusing, so in order to help you understand some of these, here is a partial list with some tongue and cheek comments from us. If you run into a term that you don’t understand, please e-mail or call with your questions. We are always here for you!

ALIENATION CLAUSE - (Has nothing to do with ALIENS…!)
A clause in a promissory note or mortgage, which provides that the balance of the secured debt becomes immediately due and payable at the option of the mortgagee upon the alienation of the property by the mortgagor.

ATTORNMENT - (Has nothing to do with tormenting an ATTORNEY…!)
The act of a tenant formally agreeing to become the tenant of a successor landlord; as in attorning to a mortgagee who has foreclosed on the leased premises.

BENCH MARK - (Has nothing to do with kids & crayons on a park bench)
A mark affixed to a permanent reference or monument, such as an iron post or a brass marker (usually embedded in a cement sidewalk), used to establish elevations and altitudes over a surveyed area.

BALLOON PAYMENT - (Actually, this is typically not a celebration time…!)
The final payment of a note or obligation, which is substantially larger than the previous installment payments, and which repays the debt in full; the remaining balance which is due at the maturity of a note or obligation.

CLOUD ON TITLE – (Even on a sunny day, you can have one of these)
Any document, claim, unreleased lien or encumbrance which many impair or injure the title to property or make the title doubtful because of its apparent or possible validity.

ENCROACHMENT – (Don’t get the roach killer just yet…!)
An unauthorized invasion or intrusion of a fixture, or other real property wholly or partly upon another's property, thus reducing the size and value of the invaded property.

ESCHEAT - (Thoughts of infidelity often occur here…!)
The reversion of property to the state when a decedent dies intestate and there are no heirs capable of inheriting, or when the property is abandoned.

GIFT TAX - (No, the IRS does not do this…)
A graduated federal tax paid by a donor upon making a gift.

GRANDFATHER CLAUSE – (No, grandpa has nothing to do with this, well, just a bit.)
Common expression used to convey the idea that something, which was once permissible continues to be permissible despite changes in the controlling law.

JUNIOR MORTGAGE - (No, the kid did not take another loan on the house!)
A mortgage, which is subordinate in right or lien priority to an existing mortgage, on the same realty, such as a second mortgage.

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES – (Nothing to spill here)
An amount predetermined by the parties to an agreement as the total amount of compensation an injured party should receive in the event the other party breaches a specified part of the contract.

LOSS PAYEE – (Nobody is missing here)
The person designated on an insurance policy to be paid in case the insured property is damaged or destroyed

MECHANIC'S LIEN – (No, it is not another tool to fix the car with)
A statutory lien created in favor of material men and mechanics to secure payment for materials supplied and services rendered in the improvement, repair or maintenance of real property.

NEGATIVE CASH FLOW – (Sounds like my checking account!)
The investment situation where cash expenditures to maintain an investment, (taxes, mortgage payments, maintenance, etc.) exceed the cash income received from the investment.

PARTY WALL – (There is no music or drinks provided here)
A wall, which is located on or at a boundary line between two adjoining parcels and is used or is intended to be used by the owners of both properties in the construction or maintenance of improvements on their respective lots.

RUNNING WITH THE LAND - (This could keep you in good shape)
Rights or covenants which bind or benefit successive owners of a property are said to run with the land, such as restrictive building covenants in a recorded deed which would affect all future owners of the property.

Our Promise To You; Our Client

We sincerely believe that we, as a team and as individuals are by far the best Realtors you could possibly hire. We are dedicated professionals who love what we do 100% of the time.
You can find us on line at www.listedbyAntonio.com or at a senior center somewhere in the bay area where we often volunteer to demonstrate ballroom dancing, our second love.
Please give us the opportunity to meet with you when you are in the process of hiring a Realtor to sell your property. Via our famous VISUALTOURS, we guarantee you that we will “SHOW YOUR HOUSE TO THE WORLD”

Sincerely.

Antonio & Alexia

© 2003 Listed by Antonio  |  Remax In Motion, Castro Valley, CA.

Website services provided by Dever Goodwin, LLC