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New Listing and Closing Process

Reference Guide

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7400 Center St, Mentor OH, 44060

440-299-5102

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EDUCATION

BABusinessPsychology,1987

MiamiUniversity,Oxford,Ohio

PROFESSIONALQUALIFICATIONS

•26yearsofmarketingandsalesexperience

•StateofOhioLicensedRealtor,LicensedBroker

CAREERHISTORY

•AmericanGreetingsCorporation

ProductManager,MarketingDepartment

•KellerWilliamsRealty

RealEstateBroker/SalesAssociate

ACCREDITATIONS

•Ranked7thoutof766realtorsinLakeandGeaugacounties

•RankedintheTOP1%ofallrealtorsinLakeandGeaugacounties

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Table of Contents 

LISTING, What to expect 4

Pre Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Activation 4

MLS Activation 4

Marketing Materials 5

Showing Requests/Showing Feedback 5

Listing Maintenance - Seller Market Updates 6

Staging Tips 6

Bathroom Staging Tips 9

Kitchen Staging Tips 10

Bedroom Staging Tips 12

Outdoor Staging Tips 13

Bonus Room and Office Staging Tips 14

Lead Base Paint 15

CLOSING, What to expect 18

Closing Protection Coverage 19

Glossary of Terms 20

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In an effort to provide detailed information at each step during the listing and closing processes we have separated out responsibilities for each team member within their area of specialty. This approach allows team members to master their responsibilities and provide consistent, cohesive service to our clients. Listed below is a summary of what you can expect during the new listing phase of your home: Pre Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Activation • Our Photographer/Stager Debbie will schedule an appointment with you to take pictures of your home, both inside and outside, place the sign in the yard and the lock box on the front door. Please have a key available for her on picture day. Our Listing Specialist Barb will email you listing documents for electronic

signatures through your computer from Dot Loop. None of these docu-ments need to be printed at any time. They are kept secure on a national web based server. Should you have any questions regarding signing electronically, please contact Barb.

• The pictures together with the details of the home will be united to cre-ate the new multiple listing. MLS Activation • Your new listing will be activated as soon as the electronic listing doc-uments are complete and received back via email into the Lisa Sisko Team office. This happens automatically once the listing documents are complet-ed online through Dot Loop. • The completed MLS sheet will be emailed to you by Barb so you can see the new listing and as it exists in the MLS and most importantly so you can review the details and ensure the information is correct.

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Listing Your Home… What To Ex ect 

If we do not receive a response back from you we will assume the infor-mation is accurate. • A customized website is created for you so that you can keep up to date on a regular basis on all homes you are in competition. As new list-ings or price reductions take place within the parameters of your competi-tion, you will receive an email update. Marketing Materials • The double sided colored feature sheet will be created and printed and delivered to your home within 3-4 days of the picture taking. The virtual tour will be emailed to you within 4-5 days of the picture tak-

ing. Showing Requests/Showing Feedback • Centralized Showing Service is the corporation which will contact you to obtain with your permission when another Realtor requests a showing for their buyers. The showings are typically scheduled in one hour incre-ments so as an example, if the showing is scheduled and approved by you since 1 - 2pm then the Realtor and buyer can arrive anytime between 1- 2pm • 6 hours after the showing occurs I request feedback via email through the buyer's agent from the buyer. It typically takes buyer’s agent approxi-mately 1-2 days to respond. Our policy is to send an email request so we get more detailed feedback and if the buyer's agent does not respond then we follow up with a phone call asking for feedback. • Every listing taken by the Lisa Sisko Team has standard instructions for Centralize Showing Service which are: to remove shoes, turn all lights off, lock all doors and provide feedback. If you have a pet or other specific showing instructions please contact Barb and communicate that infor-

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Listing Maintenance - Seller Market Updates You will receive every five weeks a Seller Market Update with a variety of

relevant listing and sale information specific to your home. This Seller Market Update will include any homes which have gone pending/sold or newly listed since we activated your listing, web statistics, price adjust-ments if appropriate, etc. Should you desire a different method of com-munication please let Lisa know.

Staging Tips

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.

1. Grab them from the curb. You've seen them. Buyers hunkered low in their cars in front of your house, doing drive-bys before deciding whether to request a showing or attend an open house. Make these potential buyers fall in love with your home from the street by adding potted plants and flowers, power-washing patios and walkways, weeding the garden and mowing the lawn. It's your first chance to make a good impression, so you've got to make it count. 2. Make it sparkle. Pretend that your mother or mother-in-law is coming for a visit. Think hotel clean. Mop, dust, vacuum, wash windows, baseboards — even the cat. Re-member that people will look in your cupboards, under your sinks and in your closets. Also, pay particular attention to odors. You might even consid-er consulting a neutral nose by having a friend come by for a smell test.

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Staging Tips 

3. Pay attention to color and light. You may love hot pink in the living room, but too-bright colors turn buyers off. Neutralize strong colors for the broadest appeal. A neutral home ap-pears larger and has less chance of offending someone. Also, open up blinds and draperies to make sure there's sufficient natural light throughout the home. Remember, lighting is the most effective way to set a mood. 4. Depersonalize. Few things deter buyers more than a cluttered home. They need to see your home, not your stuff. Excessive personal items like photos, collec-tions, personal awards, electronics and collectibles will make it difficult for buyers to see past your personal style and may deter a sale. Taking your-self out of the picture makes it easier for buyers to imagine themselves, and their stuff, in your space.

5. Consider replacing furnishings. Think about removing or replacing worn or outdat-ed furnishings and get rid of extra pieces. The time has come to move beyond matching furni-ture, so break up your sets; dated can easily be-come eclectic with editing and rearranging. Con-sider consulting with a professional staging com-pany for design direction and advice on rental fur-nishings to create an inviting home with broad ap-peal to a wide range of buyers. 6. Invest in new artwork. Displaying new artwork is a great way to breathe new life into a room. Photography can be used to contemporize a room and add a splash of color as well.

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7. Make repairs. Make your home a high-maintenance zone. Repair squeaky doors, chipped or smudged paint as well as broken fixtures and fittings that you've neglect-ed. 8. Apply a fresh coat of paint. It's the best bang for your buck that will quickly refresh a dull, dated room. Slap a fresh, neutral color on the space. Choose a beige or taupe for living spaces and a neutral green or blue for bath-rooms. 9. Don't forget the floors. Get rid of worn carpets, and consider refinishing shabby hardwood floors. An inexpensive new area rug is a quick fix and can disguise the look of old floors. 10. Spring for new light fixtures. Renew the look of the room by replacing old or dated light fixtures, door hardware, light switch-es and outlets. If it's tacky and older than you, get it out of there.

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Room-By-Room Staging Strategies Staging your home to sell is proven to increase your sale price up to seven percent, so it's worth your time to evaluate your home room-by-room and decide what changes to make. Look at your house from a buyer's perspec-tive. Here are some tips to help you play up its assets and downplay its faults: Bathroom Staging Tips Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and your grimy bathroom will go from red-flag to red-hot. Don't replace a yucky shower door -- just scour it. A grimy glass shower door can really wash out your sale. Instead of replac-ing it, clean it with a mixture of one part muriatic acid and about 10 parts water. Scrub with steel wool. After wiping it down, reinstall the door, and you'll have a shower that'll help you clean up at the open house. Avoid dated tile by painting. Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile in a bathroom doesn't. A low-cost al-ternative to replacing the tile is to use paint. First coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer. Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an up-to-date bathroom that brings in big bucks.

Staging Tips  

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Pedestal sinks are a big hit with buyers. They show off square footage in small bathrooms beautifully. First, your old vanity has to go. Next, just hook up your new sink, and your bathroom will have dramatic appeal that brings in big bucks. Plus, buyers will see how much floor space your bathroom has. Kitchen Staging Tips Stain dated kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. Dated kitchen cabinets can be a big turnoff to potential buyers. Instead of paying big bucks to replace them, just stain them. First, apply the stain in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood. Add some stylish new hard-ware, and your kitchen will have the up-to-date look that buyers love, for less than $200. Stainless-steel appliances are definitely in with buyers. Instead of buying a new dishwasher, here is a low-cost way to reface an old one: First, remove the front panels, and clean them. Next, apply a stain-less-steel stick-on covering, and cut it to size. For just $20 your dishwasher will go from outdated to ultra-modern. Fill existing hardware holes instead of making new, unsightly ones. Removing old kitchen hardware can leave your cabinets with stripped out holes. Here is a trick to reusing the existing ones. First, dip a toothpick in glue and place it in the stripped hole. Cut off the excess piece. Once the glue dries, you'll be ready to put in the new hardware that buyers love.

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Save money on granite countertops. Granite countertops are a huge selling feature, but they can be expensive. Here are a few ways to save on this investment: First, do the demo yourself. Also, ask the vendor for remnants from previ-ous projects. And remember, any money you spend will definitely be re-turned in the value these beautiful counters add to your kitchen. New kitchen appliances bring high returns from sellers. Studies show that new kitchen appliances bring high returns from sellers, so get rid of old appliances that make the rest of the kitchen look dated. Once you install the new equipment, it will scream "new kitchen," and you will see that spending a little money will make you even more. Need to dress up a window but don't want to shell out big bucks for window treatments? Here's a trick: use place mats. First, apply a hook-and-loop fastener to the place mats and attach them in a row to a basic curtain rod. Now that the place mats are attached to the curtain rods, pin them together at the bot-tom, and you'll have a stylish valance that only costs about $12. Living Room Staging Tips Adding drama to old hardwood flooring is easier than you might think. First, isolate damaged boards, cut them out, and replace them with new pieces. Rent a sander from a local hardware store, and give the floor a good sanding. The last step is to stain the boards with a rich color, and watch your floor go from drab to dramatic in no time.

Staging Tips  

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Buyers love built-in bookshelves. There's a fine line between filling them with clutter and staging them to sell. The trick is to arrange neutral items in clusters. Make sure that no single accessory stands out too much. That way, you'll show off your attractive built-ins, and not your personal belongings. Bedroom Staging Tips Remove distracting, unnecessary furniture from the bedroom. "Bedrooms need to send a signal of relaxation and comfort, not where you're doing your work, not where you're storing everything," notes design-er Monica Pedersen. "If you have multiple purposes in one room, people are going to think there aren't enough rooms in the house for you and there won't be for them. When in doubt, take it out," adds LaPorta. Headboards draw attention to a bed and make a bedroom feel fancy. "When a buyer walks into a master bedroom, they are expecting to see lux-ury, to see comfort, to see elegance," says Souza. "I look at the master bedroom as really being the lion. That is the formidable master bedroom, so you have visions of grandeur when going into a master bedroom," adds real estate expert Shirley Mattam-Male of the Washington, D.C., team. Coordinating bedding and window treatments add instant style and class to a bedroom. "If you feel like you're not a designer and you're not good at pulling together a room, just go to a great bedding store, buy bedding and from the bed-ding, pull out a paint color and get matching window treatments. It will in-stantly look like a high-end hotel suite, and it's a no brainer," advises LaPorta.

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Outdoor Staging Tips Curb appeal is vital to attracting buyers. Here is how to stop traffic using color. First, with two tones of paint, add a faux finish to any corner keystones. Next, bring out the color of walkway pavers using a stone sealer. Plant flowers in bloom, and you'll have buyers swarming like bees to your front door. A nice outdoor deck can be a big selling feature, but an old one is a major liability. To give your outdoor space new life, first sand the wood. Cover it with a light-colored stain instead of paint to give it a rustic, grainy look. Furnish it for entertaining, and watch your open house turn into a party. Breathe new life into a worn red brick patio. Do you have a red brick patio surface that needs to be freshened up? Here is an easy way to give it new life with paint. First, roll a light coat of paint onto the bricks. Next, lightly spray them with water and then dab them be-fore they dry to give them an outdoor look. When you are done, you will have a patio that looks fresh and reels in buyers. Breining suggests a quart of glossy paint in a bold, cheerful color for the front door (we suggest red), new hardware (or a little elbow grease to clean and polish the existing knocker, lockset, porch light, house numbers and mailbox), a fresh coir or seagrass mat, and a trio of seasonal potted plants on the landing to dramatically brighten and refresh your home's entry and make visitors feel welcome. This small investment pays personal dividends, too, giving you an emotional boost and a dose of house-pride with each homecoming.

Staging Tips  

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Bonus Room and Office Staging Tips Stage rooms with one purpose so buyers will know what it is. Potential buyers are confused by extra rooms that have a mishmash of us-es. To avoid this problem, first clear away clutter and excess furniture. Paint the walls a neutral tone and then furnish the room with a desk to stage it as a home office in which buyers will want to get down to business. The simple addition of a comfortable armchair, a small table and a lamp in a stairwell nook will transform it into a cozy reading spot, Russell suggests. Or drape fabric on the walls of your basement, lay inexpensive rubber pad-ding or a carpet remnant on the floor and toss in a few cushy pillows. Voila! Your new meditation room or yoga studio. Don't forget to stage your storage space, too! Resist the temptation to shove clutter into closets -- buyers will be opening all your closet doors during showings. It's a good idea to clear out unneces-sary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have. Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing, as you will definite-ly be moving once buyers see all that closet space .

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        Lead Based Paint 

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        Lead Based Paint 

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Closing Process Guide

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Congratulations on receiving an offer on your listing. Now we begin the closing phase. Listed below is the flow of activities that will occur over the next few weeks. We will be in close contact with the buyer’s agent, mortgage and the title company to execute the following items: · Confirm inspection(s) date(s) and time(s) from the buyer to you

· Compile the removal of contingency forms

· Schedule the appraisal date

· Oversee the loan process from loan application through to loan commit-

ment

· Ensure loan package is sent to the title company

· Signing of final documents with title representation

· Instruct you on the utilities transfer

· Key transfer arrangement

· Email or mail final sales papers The title company will mail out to you the title paperwork to be completed and returned to them regarding Closing Protection Coverage and other forms asking for your social security #, marital status, etc.. This is a normal part of the closing process. Please complete and return this paperwork timely to ensure no delays. With regards to inspections and appraisal, appointment time/date will be authorized and confirmed through us to you. You will not have to be pre-sent at the home or miss work.

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Closing Protection Coverage  In the next week or so you will receive in the mail 2-3 pages, from the title

agency handling the closing, which will need to be completed and sent

back.

The Closing Protection Coverage is offered to buyers, sellers and lenders

in every real estate transaction to protect the monies that come into and

go out from the title company’s possession. If shortly before or after clos-

ing, the title company closes their doors (goes out of business, without

warning) then there is a chance the buyer, seller or lender would lose their

down payment, net proceeds or funding of the loan.

This is unlikely to occur, but when the economy went south starting in 2006

and subsequently the housing market began to suffer, it impacted affiliated

businesses such as title companies.

If you elect to take the protection coverage, it will be listed as a charge ap-

pearing on your final settlement statement. These charges are typically $15

for buyers, $35 for lenders and $50 for sellers.

It is a separate insurance company that insures the buyer, seller and lender

dollars. The title company managing this closing does not keep the charge

(cost).

  

Seller Closing Process 

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Appraiser An appraiser works on behalf of a lender and provides a market analysis of the subject property. An appraiser’s finding is subjective and combined with market findings of sold properties within the surrounding neighborhood. Appraisal A professional appraiser's estimate of the market value of a property based on local market data and the recent sale prices of similar properties. Buyer’s Agent A buyer’s agent or broker works with the buyer to locate a suitable property and negotiate a successful home purchase. Broker An individual who assists with arranging funding or negotiating contracts for a client but who does not loan the money himself or herself. Brokers usually charge a fee or receive a commission for their services. Closing The final steps in the transfer of property ownership. It is when the final docu-ments are signed by the buyer and seller. Closing Costs Expenses in addition to the price of the home incurred by buyers and sellers when a home is sold. Common closing costs include escrow fees, title insurance fees, document recording fees and real estate commissions.

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Contingency Conditions included with an offer on a home that must be fulfilled before the deal can close. If a buyer or seller is unable to satisfy a contingency, then the offer on a home may become void Counteroffer An offer in response to a previous offer. Earnest Money The deposit given by a buyer to a seller to show that the buyer is serious about purchasing the home. Earnest money usually is refundable to homebuyers in the event a contingency of the sales contract cannot be met. Escrow The holding of documents and money by a neutral third party prior to closing. Escrow Payment The part of a mortgager’s monthly payment that is held by the servicer to pay for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, lease payments and other items as they become due. Escrow/Closing Officer An escrow or closing officer is a non-biased third party who works with all partici-pants to facilitate a successful closing of a real estate transaction. At closing, the closing officer will collect the purchase money funds from the buyer and lender as well as the settlement costs from each party. They disburse the funds in ac-cordance with the HUD-1 settlement statement and record the necessary docu-ments to transfer ownership of the property.

        Glossar  of Ter s 

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Federal Housing Administration (FHA) A division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development whose main activity is insuring residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. FHA also sets standards for underwriting mortgages. FHA Loan A loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration open to all qualified home purchasers. While there are limits to the size of FHA loans, they are generous enough to handle moderately priced homes almost anywhere in the country. Home Inspection Professional inspection of a home, paid for by the buyer, to evaluate the quality and safety of its plumbing, heating, wiring, appliances, roof, foundation, etc. Home Inspector A home inspector objectively and independently provides a comprehensive anal-ysis of a home’s major systems and components. Homeowner’s Warranty A policy that covers certain repairs (e.g. plumbing or heating) of a newly pur-chased home for a certain period of time. Insurance Agent An insurance agent helps a homebuyer determine the homeowner’s protection coverage needed and then finds the right insurance policy to fit those needs. Listing Agent A listing agent or broker forms a legal relationship with the homeowner to sell the property.

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Loan Officer A loan officer is a representative of a bank or other financial institution. They help customers identify their borrowing options and help them understand the terms of their loan. Multiple Listings Service (MLS) The service combines the listings for all available homes in an area, except for For-Sale-By-Owner properties, in one directory or database. Pre-Approval A process in which a customer provides appropriate information on income, debts and assets that will be used to make a credit only loan decision. The cus-tomer typically has not identified a property to be purchased, however, a specific sales price and loan amount are used to make a loan decision. (The sales price and loan amount are based on customer assumptions.) Pre-Qualification A process designed to assist a customer in determining a maximum sales price, loan amount and PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and insurance) payment they are qualified for. A pre-qualification is not considered a loan approval. A custom-er would provide basic information (income, debts, assets) to be used to deter-mine the maximum sales price, etc. Point of Sale Various municipalities require an inspection of a property before the property can title transfer to a new owner. Once the inspection is passed, the current owner will be given an occupancy permit from the city that will need to be pro-vided to the escrow officer so that transaction can file (title transfer).

        Glossar  of Ter s 

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Possession Date The date, as specified by the sales agreement, that the buyer can move into the property. Generally, it occurs within a couple days of the Closing Date. Radon Second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air con-taining radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. REALTOR® A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent and a member of the National As-sociation of REALTORS®. They also belong to their state and local Association of REALTORS®. When looking for a REALTOR®, the best place to start is by asking friends and neighbors for referrals. Another resource is the Find a REAL-TOR® search feature on the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) web-site. Real Estate Agent A real estate agent is licensed by the state to represent parties in the transfer of property. Every REALTOR® is a real estate agent, but not every real estate agent has the professional designation of a REALTOR®. Staging Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real es-tate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the high-est number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.

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Title A legal concept relating to ownership of property. Title Company Our thorough title searches, title clearance and title insurance policies help to produce clear property titles and enable the efficient transfer of real estate. Title Transfer Occurs when the title property is transferred at the county from the title owner to the purchaser. Underwriting The process of evaluating a loan application to determine if it meets the lender’s standards. VA Loan A long-term, low- or no-down payment loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Restricted to individuals qualified by military service or other entitlements. Walk through The final inspection of a home by the buyers before it's sold. Buyers will com-plete a final walk-through of the home to make sure any requests for repairs or appliances have been fulfilled before the closing papers are signed. A walk-through happens anywhere from a few days to a few hours before closing, and it's especially important if the sellers have already moved out of the home. If something isn't right, the buyers should ask the sellers to fix the problem before the sale is final.

        Glossar  of Ter s 

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Presented By

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Cell: 440 7968043

Of ice: 440 299‐5102

iFax: 440 299‐5276

E‐mail:Lisa@LisaSiskoTeam.com

Website:LisaSiskoTeam.com

BarbDentonMarketingSpecialist

barbdenton@lisasiskoteam.com

DebbieRibinskasPhotographer&Stagerdebbie@lisasiskoteam.com

BarbLoeserListing/ClosingManager

barb@lisasiskoteam.com