REMERGE
Transaction Coordinators

May 2005                                                                                   Volume 2 - Issue 5
Full Service Real Estate Transaction Coordination for California
22691 Lambert St. #154
Lake Forest, CA  92630

Web site: www.remerge.com  Phone: 949-582-5812
E-mail: info@remerge.com Fax: 949-582-7885
                                                

NEW!---> SELLER PROPERTY QUESTIONNAIRE - C.A.R. form SPQ, 4/05
WinForms released a new disclosure on 4/25/2005. The SELLER PROPERTY QUESTIONNAIRE (SPQ) is a 3-page form that asks the Seller 35 questions regarding the property for sale. Only the Seller and Buyer sign this disclosure. Please review the SPQ so that you know what materials your Seller and Buyers receive in their disclosure package.

The SPQ is an addendum. The SPQ is not mandatory nor is it a D.R.E. requirement. It is also not a substitute for the TDS, which is mandatory. However, we expect that the SPQ will soon be the industry standard. Consequently, the SELLER PROPERTY QUESTIONNAIRE has been added to all REMERGE Transaction Coordinators disclosure packages for California areas that do not have a comparable form.


SAN DIEGO'S SAD and NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S SRETD vs. C.A.R.'S SPQ
Some boards and forms companies have had their own version of the SPQ for years. The San Diego Association of Realtors recently updated the Seller's Additional Disclosures (SAD) for San Diego County. Professional Publisher and PDRS in northern CA have an extensive Supplement to the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure (SRETD). REMERGE has always included these area specific addenda to the respective packages. 

There is a lot of duplication in the questions in SAD and SRETD vs the SPQ, However, there are some questions that are unique to each form. If you sell real estate in San Diego County or Northern California, please take the time to compare the SAD or SRETD questionnaires vs. the SPQ. If you or your Broker have already decided which form you want to use, please e-mail your REMRGE Coordinator. Ask her to mark your files with your choice. If we don't hear from you, we will ask you on the your next transaction, which addenda you prefer or if you prefer both. The default will be the TDS supplement that was written for that area.

JUST THE FAX, MA'AM
Like your car, your computer and your cell phone, a fax machine is necessary equipment for your real estate business. You should have a dedicated phone line for a plain paper fax machine with memory and a feature which can sense a legal or regular size copy coming through. If your fax machine cannot auto sense the document size, always have legal paper in the bin.

SIZE MATTERS
If you program your fax machine such that incoming legal-size documents are reduced to fit into a 8 1/2 x 11 page, all paperwork that comes is reduced proportionately. Assume that you fax a document to an Agent and he faxes it back to you, after his machine has already reduced the copy. It is now in 3rd generation reduction. Fax it to your client, he faxes to you, fax it back to the Agent. The final copy is a fully executed fax mush. 

We often get documents that are reduced down to a postage stamp size. Enlarging does not give document clarity. It just gives you bigger fax mush.  

REMERGE Transaction Coordinators cannot get signatures on contract documents. Listing and sale contracts should be fully executed before a listing or a sale is open with REMERGE or escrow. If you receive illegible documents, insist to the other Agent that he give you a proper copy of the document, even if it means he has to revisit his client to re-sign. Your Coordinator will notify you when a contract is legally unacceptable.  

The Agents in the transaction have a duty to provide legally acceptable contract documents to their clients and their Broker. Taking short cuts by faxing documents back and forth to save time may spell trouble for you in the event of a dispute where you have to show documents in your defense. 

LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY …
D.R.E. only approves fax copies when the lettering is at least 10 point font.
If your fax machine produces mush documents, spring $100 and get a good fax machine. It's business!

GOT WEB SITE? INCREASE TRAFFIC!
Our records show that Buyers and Sellers check their files on line an average of 4 times per week once listed or in escrow. All this traffic can be yours!
Did you know that REMERGE gives your Buyers and Sellers a password to access their files on line? AND, did you know that your clients can access their transaction directly from your web site rather than coming to www.remerge.com

1. Add a "Check My Files" button on your home page.
2. Link the "Check My Files" button to: http://www.remerge.com/sbs.htm
3. Notify REMERGE Tech Support to connect your web page to the transaction letters: remerge@cox.net

Once you have notified REMERGE Tech Support, the REMERGE introduction letter will direct the Client to your web site. When the client clicks on "Check My Files" a page for Buyer and Seller Password only appears. Once the client enters his password, he goes directly to his REMERGE file. The REMERGE web site is entirely bypassed.

Use the "Check My Files" feature of your web site as a marketing and selling point that distinguishes your service from other agents. If you want to discuss other marketing possibilities of this REMERGE program feature, contact me: shelly@remerge.com

EFFECTIVE NOW: $25 SERVICE FEE

IF You DO NOT REGISTER
your NEW LISTING, LISTING/SOLD or NEW SALE ON-LINE!

When you just fax or call in new listing or sales, leave information on voice mail or e-mail, your REMERGE Coordinator has to spend additional time and expense to register your transaction for you as well as gather information before she can even start to work on your file. Not registering your transaction on-line guarantees a substantial delay to your transaction coordination and will incur a $25 service fee to you.

On the other hand, when you register your transaction on-line, provide complete information and fax in all contract documents promptly, you can expect same day processing and no additional fee. Isn't that better?

TIP - E-MAIL COMUNICATION IS FASTER!
The REMERGE phones are continuously occupied. Voice mail messages are returned sometime during the day. The Coordinator's computer screen is continuously on and e-mail message are visible. E-mail requests are returned almost immediately. Whenever possible, e-mail your Coordinator, even if it is a request for a call back. Always leave your phone number so that she doesn’t have to look it up.

REMERGE Transaction Coordinators
Adept & Loyal
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAIN US. WE DON'T QUIT ON YOU.


QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS?
E-mail to: Shelly Gorenstein, REMERGE Gazette Editor We're here for you!

REMERGE Staff Phone  & Voice Mail Fax  E-mail
Shelly Gorenstein, Director 949-582-5812 x 100 949-215-2725 shelly@remerge.com
Robin McCullough, Coordinator 949-582-5812 x 101 949-716-9047 robin@remerge.com
Cindy Guss, Coordinator 949-582-5812 x 102 949-215-3305 cindy@remerge.com
Tatiana Flash, Coordinator 949-582-5812 x 103 949-215-0493 tatiana@remerge.com
Constance Hundley, Coordinator 949-582-5812 x 104 949-215-3856 connie@remerge.com
Charles Gorenstein, Tech Support 949-215-6220 949-716-9177 remerge@cox.net