About you
So Tim knows who he is talking to and how you like to communicate.
Best time of day to reach you Select one Morning Midday Afternoon Evening Weekends
How did you find Tim? Select one Referral from a friend or client Google search Social media Special Olympics community Law practice client Signage or open house Other
Who else is on title or part of this decision? (names and roles)
Condition and history
Nothing here is a disclosure form; that comes later with the required California forms. This just helps Tim price and plan.
Overall condition, in your honest opinion
Upgrades or major work done, with approximate years
Roof age Select one Under 5 years 5 to 15 years 15 to 25 years Over 25 years Not sure
HVAC age Select one Under 5 years 5 to 15 years Over 15 years No central HVAC Not sure
Water heater Select one Tankless Tank, under 8 years Tank, over 8 years Not sure
Known issues, repairs needed, or anything a buyer inspection would likely find
Was major work permitted? Select one Yes, all permitted Some permitted, some not Not sure No major work done
Any prior insurance claims or litigation on the property? Select one No Yes Not sure
Timing and motivation
Why and when you are selling drives pricing strategy and negotiation posture.
What is prompting the sale?
Ideal timeline to be closed Select one As soon as possible Within 60 days 2 to 4 months 4 to 6 months 6 to 12 months Just exploring
How firm is that timeline? Select one Hard deadline Strong preference Flexible for the right price No deadline at all
Are you buying another home? Select one Yes, locally Yes, out of area No Not sure yet
Does the sale need to fund the next purchase? Select one Yes, must close first Ideally, but not required No
If relocating, where to?
Have you listed this home before? Select one No Yes, it sold Yes, it did not sell Yes, currently listed
Are you currently working with another agent? Select one No Yes, under a written agreement Yes, but not under agreement Not sure
Pricing, proceeds, and contingencies
Tim will prepare a CRMLS-based comparative market analysis. Your numbers here are the starting point for that conversation, not the conclusion.
Is this your primary residence? Select one Yes, for 2 or more of the last 5 years Yes, less than 2 years No, rental or investment No, second home
Have you spoken with a tax advisor about the sale? Select one Yes No, would like a referral No, not needed
Is there a minimum net you need to walk away with? (optional)
Pricing strategy you lean toward Select one Price at market for a clean sale Price slightly under to drive competition Price high and negotiate down Not sure, want Tim's advice
How would you feel about a price reduction if the market says so? Select one Fine, I trust the data Reluctant but open Would rather wait it out Not an option
Is this sale contingent on you buying another home?
Status of that purchase Select one Have not started looking Actively looking Have a home identified In contract Already closed
Will the proceeds from this sale fund the down payment on that home? Select one Yes, all of it Yes, part of it No
If a buyer will not accept a purchase contingency from you, what would you do? Select one Sell and rent temporarily Negotiate a rent-back after closing Use a bridge loan or HELOC to buy first Delay listing until I am in contract on the next home Not sure, want Tim's advice
Would you consider accepting an offer that is contingent on the buyer selling their home?
If yes, is there a price premium that would make a contingent offer worth it to you?
Your understanding of the process
No wrong answers. This tells Tim how much time to spend on the mechanics versus pricing and marketing. In this engagement Tim is your real estate agent, not your attorney; the outline below is general information, not legal advice.
How well do you understand the California home selling process from listing to close?
What is required of a seller, start to finish Sign a listing agreement. A written agreement with PK Real Estate and Investments through Tim sets the list price, term, commission, and marketing plan. It also contains the required disclosures about agency and compensation.Complete your disclosures. California requires sellers to disclose everything they know about the property in writing: the Transfer Disclosure Statement, Seller Property Questionnaire, natural hazard report, lead paint (pre-1978), water heater and smoke detector compliance, and more. Honest, thorough disclosure is your strongest legal protection after closing.Prepare the home. Repairs, paint, staging, photography. Tim runs the plan; you approve the budget. A pre-listing inspection is optional but often pays for itself by preventing surprises later.Go to market. MLS listing, syndication to the portals, broker outreach, open houses if you want them. Tim sends a weekly written report on activity and feedback.Review offers. Each offer is a full contract proposal: price, deposit, financing, contingencies, timelines, and requested inclusions. The highest price is not always the strongest offer. Tim walks you through each one line by line.Negotiate and accept. Counteroffers on price and terms until both sides sign. Multiple offers may call for a multiple counter offer to several buyers at once.Open escrow. The buyer wires the deposit to escrow. Escrow orders a preliminary title report, coordinates payoff of your existing loan, and manages the paperwork on both sides.Buyer investigation period. The buyer inspects, reviews your disclosures, and may request repairs or credits. You can agree, counter, or decline. The buyer can cancel during this window and recover the deposit; after they remove contingencies, the deposit is at risk to them.Appraisal. If the buyer is financing, the lender appraises the home. A low appraisal may reopen price negotiations.Contingency removal. Once the buyer removes all contingencies in writing, the deal is firm. Backing out after this point generally costs the buyer their deposit.Move out, sign, and close. You sign the deed and closing documents with a notary, deliver the home in the agreed condition with agreed items left behind, and hand over keys at recording. Escrow pays off your mortgage, pays commissions and closing costs, and wires you the net proceeds, usually the same day the deed records.After closing. Cancel homeowner insurance, close utility accounts, forward mail, and keep your closing statement for tax time. If you are buying next, this is when the funds land for that purchase.Disclosure is the part sellers most often underestimate. California law puts the burden on you to tell the buyer what you know, in writing, and it is the single best protection against a claim after closing. Tim walks you through every form. For legal questions about the contract or a dispute, the Law Offices of Timothy M. Stuart is a separate engagement.
Which of these would you like Tim to spend extra time on?
Do you understand that you must disclose all known material facts about the property in writing, even if the sale is as-is?
Are you aware the buyer can cancel and recover their deposit during the inspection period?
Anything about the process that worries you or that went badly in a past sale?
Marketing preferences
Tim's standard plan is on the Sell page. Tell him where you want to adjust it.
Marketing tools
Leave a row blank if you have no opinion.
Anything you do NOT want shown, mentioned, or photographed?
Deal terms
What matters to you at the negotiating table.
Terms and buyer types
Leave a row blank if you have no opinion.
Anything that would be a dealbreaker in an offer?
Items you plan to exclude from the sale (fixtures, plants, mounted TVs, etc.)
Anything else
Loose ends and open questions.
Neighbors, noise, neighborhood changes, or history a buyer should hear from us first
Questions for Tim before your first meeting
Anything else?