REAL ESTATE INQUIRY:

It was a sunny afternoon when I encountered an old friend of mine, who asked me, “Hey Cruzer you’re into real estate...right?”

“Yes sir” I replied.

“Hey...I saw a commercial the other day about this company “Purplebricks”, he said,  "Who claimed they can help a person save thousands of dollars when they sell their home...how true is that?”

I placed my hands on my hips, tilted my head back and laughed out loud like Popeye...which went something like this, “Ga..ga..ga..ga!” then I playfully pinched his right cheek and said, “You silly little man...let me tell you the in’s and out’s of real estate!”

First of all, I explained the facts about the company Purplebricks, which was originally based somewhere in the United Kingdom and Australia area.  According to a consumer website similar to that of the BBB, A.Spokesman.Com, there had been 20 consumer complaints against the company out of 27 reviews indicating that the customer were under the false impression that they don’t have to pay a commission for their home and just a one time flat fee, but that is regardless if you sell your property or not and you still have to do the paperwork!  

A article in the Financial Times website, dated February 2, 2018, indicated that a stockbroking company, Jefferies, became suspicious of Purplebricks’ claims of 88% home sales last year, and was later discovered that their sales was actually 51.6% ( a little more than half) and in 2016 the Advertising Standards Authority officially upheld consumer complaints that the company’s advertisement of not paying commission fees was misleading and there was no comparative data to support their statement of “getting the better price our local expert will take care of it.”

So you have to ask yourself, “Is it worth paying someone $3,200 to show you how to sell your own home regardless if you sell it or not?”  

Now let me briefly explain what is involved in a home sale.

1. Must submit all disclosures regarding your home to the buyer...water heater, roof clearance, termite clearance, smoke detector, asbestos, mold, lead based paints hazards, natural hazard and seller's proceeds etc.

2. Must arrange a roof inspection.

3. Must arrange a termite inspection.

4. Must arrange a city inspection and home inspection.

5. Must advised the owner(s) when the bank-appointed appraiser is coming.

6. Must make sure everything (inspections and paperwork) are within the time of escrow.

7. Must notify buyer(s) the assessed value of home for tax purposes. (additional document)

8. Check comparable of the near-by radius for competitive pricing. CMA Market Analysis

9. Writing out a legal residential purchase agreement.

10.  Making sure the buyer is serious of purchasing your home by initiating a deposit to escrow company. (If not seller’s financed)

11. If a sale, open escrow, title policy and the closing process.

12. Negotiate closing costs

If buying:

1. Check if all building permits are legally registered.

2. Check  for any liens or back taxes on the residence.

3. Check on existing and proposed zoning changes, yard variances, conditional permits, covenants and flood zones.

4. Check with the bureau of assessments of any street, sewer or lighting bonds against the property.

5.  If farmland with crops, buyer(s) should obtain a graph and crop report within the last five years that also shows progressive condition of the soil, registered and hidden easements etc.

6.  Take care of financing arrangements (pre-qualifications etc.)

7.  Find a practical loan company.

8. Check the neighborhood for sexual predators and recent crime reports.

9. Obtain official transcripts of territorial boundary lines.

And there still other responsibilities or obligations not listed...so my question remains...Are you still willing to pay $3,200 to someone to sell your house regardless if your property sells or not while you do all the handy-work?  If you said “yes” then I got a bridge I want to sell you!  

So why not let a professional handle all the ruckus besides it is totally free to use the services of a buying agent regardless whose sign it is in the front of the house and a sales agent are very negotiable...like...uhh...me! I even barter for my services if you are not interested to pay with currency.  (That's the power of having a broker's license!)  

So call me with any questions pertaining to real estate transactions land or home because I’m willing “to stand on my head to make you a deal!”...heh...ok...maybe not on my head...but I could dance a mean ass cumbia in my wheelchair...ole!