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Do you use a buyer checklist?

By
Real Estate Agent with Exp Realty - Atlantic County

Recently I revamped my buyer checklist to make sure I don't wake up in a cold sweat the day before closing wondering if I missed anything. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

   The devil’s in the details –check everything twice

___        Grey File Folder                                ___Client File Folder

___        Tax Report from Paragon
___        Agreement of Sale
___        Pre-qualification letter
___        DU Approval
___        Sellers Disclosure
___        Affiliated Business Disclosure
___        Lead Paint Booklet
___        Lead Paint Disclosure
___        MLS Printout
___        Consumer Information Statement

___        Sellers Estimated Closings Cost (to be provided by title company if desired)

___        (short sale)  Short Sale Addendum if applicable (either NJAR or FB style)

___        Fair Housing Poster
___        Condo Docs in applicable
___        Homeowners Association/Community Disclosure Docs Disclosure
___        Condominiums Association Disclosures
___        Notify buyer of typical closing costs related to transaction
___        Deposit money verification
___        Proof of escrow letter
___        Copy of escrow checks

___        2nd deposit due ______________
___        Inspection due ______________

___        Additional Addendums

___        Home Warranty?
___        Referrals?

Mortgage Information______________________________________________

 



Posted by

Steven Perry Schafer, Realtor
Exp Realty Atlantic County NJ
RealtyFlyer@gmail.com
My Real Estate Website
Phone: 609-470-1806

Lori Williams
Lake Wylie, Charlotte, Gastonia Homes for Sale ABR, CDPE, SFR, ASP, Lori@LoriWilliamsRealty.com - Gastonia, NC
Lake Wylie, Gastonia, SW Charlotte, Homes for Sale
Oh good one - reminder not to buy anything. Need to add that one to my check list
Jan 22, 2013 06:51 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

I LOVE Checklists...I have a NEW CLIENT prospect Checklist and 2 NEW TENANT PROSPECT and an APPLICANT checklist.....different color of paper really works!

Jan 22, 2013 06:56 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Lists are a good thing....keeps us all on top of whatever the task and it is done thoroughly and correctly.

 

Jan 22, 2013 06:58 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Steven, Checklist are soo important, they can help avoid any mistakes and potential lawsuits.

Jan 22, 2013 07:09 PM
Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Steve;  I think you have covered all the bases with your list!! keep up the good work and good luck with your business,  E

Jan 22, 2013 08:35 PM
Marc McMaster
RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA
Putting my clients before myself

We use checklists for everything in our office.  Listing checklists, marketing checklists, closing file checklists, HUD review checklists; we have one for just about everything  we do.

Jan 22, 2013 08:40 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

This is so important for all selling agents, new and experienced.  We are only human.

Show me an agent who says they don't use or need checklists and I'll show you an agent that gets into trouble because they forgot something. 

There's no shame in having checklists, only in making risky mistakes of omission.

 

Jan 22, 2013 08:41 PM
Sue Ellett
Synergy Property Group | Spyglass Realty - Austin, TX
Austin, TX, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs
As much as we try to go paperless, I find I still need a physical file and checklists throughout the process to stay on track. We closed 70 transactions last year and 32 leases-without these checklists, we would be toast!
Jan 22, 2013 08:44 PM
Dwight Puntigan
DRP Realty, LLC - Saint Peters, MO
Dwight Puntigan

We are the pilot to the transaction.  Keep the clipboard handy.

 

Jan 22, 2013 08:48 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I use checklists for both buyers and sellers.  The few times I didn't, I almost forgot something.  No shame in a checklist.  We aren't perfect.  

Jan 22, 2013 09:14 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Steven, using checklists is good business. They keep everyone on top of the transaction where nothing falls through the crack.

Jan 22, 2013 10:07 PM
Susan Jackson
America's Network Realty Group, Inc - Sandy Springs, GA

Always a check list.  It saves alot of sleepless nights, butterflies in the stomach while driving down the road, trying to figure out if you did something.  This is a great list. Thanks

Jan 23, 2013 12:16 AM
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

We use a buyers checklist but it's not that detailed... until now.  We are going to add some of your information to our checklist.  Thanks.

Jan 23, 2013 03:48 AM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

That is quite a list. I have all of my docs in Dropbox so I guess I have that list on every device I have.

Jan 23, 2013 04:59 AM
Jimmy Faulkner
Florida. Homes Realty & Mortgage - Wantagh, NY
The Best Of St. Augustine

Great article & a great checklist. Oh how we forget the small stuff & how it can cost time & money. It is embarassing to have missed something. Thanks, jimmy

Jan 23, 2013 05:23 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I use a checklist with over 60 items marked with indicators for all necessary signatures as well as condition items.  Having that list means I always deliver a complete file to the office.

Jan 23, 2013 05:59 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Steve:

My transaction coordinator is like Sherlock Holmes in that she checks my documents with a magnifying glass to be sure I have all I need.  I'll give her a copy of your list to compare with yours.

Jan 23, 2013 07:03 AM
Steven Schafer
Exp Realty - Atlantic County - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
CDPE, SFR, ABR, SRES

Hey everyone, 

Thank you so much for the positive responses. It was so much that I actually got my first featured blog on Active Rain. 

I posted another list I used to support my listings. I hope you'll take a minute to check out the post.

http://actvra.in/PLq

Steven
Jan 23, 2013 10:20 PM
Tamara and Gary James
Exit Elite Realty - Lanham, MD
The James Team
Thanks Steven for sharing your checklist. I am in the process of developing checklist to include in my client files and came across your post, which has been most helpful.
Jun 23, 2013 02:37 PM
Steven Schafer
Exp Realty - Atlantic County - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
CDPE, SFR, ABR, SRES

Check out today's post on how to set up Google +

http://actvra.in/4nmr

Sep 15, 2014 02:29 AM