Phone:
205-612-8496
LINKS TO USEFUL TOOLS AND
INFORMATION
Internet
Auction Sale - A selling option that might work for you.
Why Work With Us? - What we do for
buyers and sellers. Who
we are and what we offer.
For Sale By Owner - Things to consider -
Is it right for you?
Understanding Agency - What you need to know
about real estate agency arrangements.
Listing & Selling
Strategy - How we market your home.
Preparing Your
Home - Things
you can do to help show your home.
Understanding Title Insurance
- What and who it
protects.
Real Estate Appraisers - Preferred on first
page - Plus search by area.
Home Inspection Companies - State Licensed Inspector search.
Closing
Attorneys -
Comprehensive list of closing attorneys with contact
information
Closing the
Deal - What to
expect and bring to the closing.
Moving
Tips - Suggestions and cautions on making your
move.
Moving Companies - Get
quotes and compare moving companies.
Address Change
- with Post Office, IRS, Driver's License, Voter Registration,
etc.
If you are relocating to another area and need
information about schools, child care, parks, doctors and
other services available anywhere in the
country click on the link below to go to our
Area Information
Page
Title Insurance
There are two kinds of title insurance – a
lender’s title policy and an owner’s title policy. To protect their interest in
the property, mortgage lenders require buyers to purchase a lender’s
title policy. But a
lender’s title policy doesn’t protect the buyer's interest as the
homeowner.
To protect their interest in the property
the buyer needs an owner’s title policy. This policy pays for all
court costs and related fees associated with any claim that might
come up and if a claim is found to be valid, the actual loss is
covered, up to the face amount of the policy. In Alabama, it is customary
for the buyer and seller to split the cost of the two title
insurance policies.
Some of the things a title policy
will protect against
include:
- Fraud
- Liens for unpaid
estate inheritance and gift taxes against prior owners of your
home.
- Unrecorded
easements – rights of way
- Undisclosed Heirs
of former owners of you home or the land on which it is
situated.
- Invalid deeds
delivered after the death of the grantor
- Invalid documents
executed under expired power of attorney
- Deeds by persons
of unsound mind
- Deeds by
minors
- Deeds by supposedly single persons
who are actually
married
Back to Top
Closing
In Alabama it is customary for one attorney
to represent the buyer, seller and mortgage company (if a loan is
involved) and for the cost of the attorney to be split equally
between the buyer and the seller. The closing attorney will
lead the way and direct everyone in regard to the many papers
that must be reviewed and signed. A good closing attorney will
make the experience pleasant and
stress-free.
The closing should take less than an hour to
complete. The meeting
is relatively informal and usually attended by the buyer, seller,
buying and selling real estate agents, and perhaps a representative
from the mortgage company.
You can also bring anyone you wish to assist you or just
keep you company.
Things you should bring to the
closing:
- Photo ID
- Keys and garage door
opener(s)
- If more than one owner, both must
attend or arrangements for power of attorney must be made in
advance.
Back to Top
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Closing Attorneys |
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|
Name |
Address |
Phone |
|
Atchison, Mike T. |
110 North Main
Street, Columbiana, AL 35051 |
669-9268 |
|
Barksdale, Todd. |
1707 29th Court South, Homewood, AL
35209 |
871-5630 |
|
Battles,
Chris |
3150 H
.52 West,
Pelham, AL 35124 |
664-1080 |
|
Beals,
Russell |
4898 Valleydale Road, Ste B-3, Bham, AL
35242 |
991-5434 |
|
Brown, Vincent |
510 N. 18 Street, Bessemer, AL
35020 |
425-7001 |
|
Burdette, L. Brooks |
1930 Edwards Lake Rd, Ste 126, B'ham, AL
35235 |
661-1800 |
|
Bynum & Bynum |
17 Office Park Circle, Bham, AL
35223 |
870-8090 |
|
Carr, Clay |
400 Boardman Drive, Chelsea, AL
35043 |
678-8000 |
|
Central Alabama
Title |
3241 Oak Hill Drive, B'ham, AL
35216 |
822-7395 |
|
Cyte, Susie |
1315 Columbiana Drive, B'ham, AL
35226 |
979-3216 |
|
Chamblee, Ennis &
Weems |
5582 Apple Pk. Drive, B'ham, AL
35235 |
856-9111 |
|
Coney, Moncus &
Ward |
400 Shades Creek Pkwy, Suite 100, Bham
35209 |
879-5959 |
|
Closing Services, Inc. (Ray
Morse) |
1920 Valleydale Road, Bham, AL
35244 |
988-4342 |
|
Davis, Yvonne |
1 Perimeter Park So., Suite 1-N, Bham
35243 |
324-5536 |
|
Dominick, Fletcher &
Yielding |
2121 Highland
Avenue S., B'ham, AL 35205 |
939-0033 |
|
Downs & Associates |
20038 Hwy 11, Woodstock, AL
35188 |
938-2024 |
|
Druid Title |
2008 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL
35401 |
345-5583 |
|
Foster, Tom |
1201 19 Street N., B'ham, AL
35234 |
328-3358 |
|
Freeman, Ed |
118 North 18 Street, Bessemer, AL
35020 |
424-1150 |
|
Fuhrmeister, Jim |
1300 Corporate Drive Bham AL
35242 |
991-6367 |
|
Galloway, Michael |
999 Mt. Olive Rd, Ste 201, Gardendale, AL
35071 |
631-1969 |
|
Gant, John |
200 Office Park Drive, Ste 210, Bham, AL
35223 |
868-0093 |
|
Goings, Harold |
2117 Second Ave. North, Bham, AL
35203 |
328-4100 |
|
|
Holliman,
John |
2491 Pelham Pkwy., Pelham, AL
35124 |
663-0281 |
|
Holliman, Shockley &
Kelly |
1610 4th Avenue N., Bessemer,
AL 35020 |
424-5494 |
|
Hornsby,
Bobby |
2010 Old Springville Road,
Bham, AL 35215 |
856-5100 |
|
Humphrey,
Scott |
3829 Lorna Road, Ste 312,
Hoover, AL 35244 |
988-8888 |
|
Johnson, Stuart
Y. |
4 Office Park Circle, Ste 112,
B'ham, AL 35223 |
445-0977 |
|
Jones,
Loring |
1025 Mont. Hwy., Ste. 212,
Vestavia Hills 35216 |
979-5210 |
|
Keith, Alan
C. |
2100 Lynngate Drive, Bham, AL
35216 |
822-5444 |
|
Kreps,
Joseph |
1313
Alford Avenue, AL
35226 |
823-0894 |
|
Latham,
William |
409 Lay Dam Road, Clanton, AL
35045 |
755-1975 |
|
Lockhart,
Danny |
1129 Forestdale Blvd., Bham, AL
35214 |
798-8900 |
|
Magnolia
Title |
300 Office Park Drive, Bham, AL
35223 |
414-1695 |
|
Martin,
Pat |
2090 Columbiana Road, Ste 2000
B'ham 35216 |
823-4552 |
|
Mason,
Courtney |
1904
Indian Lake Dr., Ste.100, Bham, AL
35244 |
733-2600 |
|
Massey &
Stotser |
1780 Gadsden Hwy., B'ham
35235 |
836-4586 |
|
Mitchell &
Graham |
803 Third Street SW,
Childersburg, AL 35044 |
378-3161 |
|
Mitchell &
Graham |
2700 Highway 280 East, Suite
250, Bham 35223 |
871-5020 |
|
Moncus,
Jim |
1313 Alford Avenue, B'ham, AL
35226 |
823-0894 |
|
Mosley &
Associates |
3800 Colonnade Pkwy Ste 630,
Bham, AL 35243 |
972-9202 |
|
Moss &
Condor |
300 Union Hill Drive, Suite
200, Bham, AL 35209 |
871-2133 |
|
Newell
Associates |
2117 Jack Warner Pkwy, Ste 5,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
343-0340 |
|
Ovson,
David |
1130 South 22nd Street, Suite
4800, Bham, 35205 |
930-0090 |
|
Paden &
Paden |
5 Riverchase Ridge, Ste. 100,
B'ham, AL 35244 |
987-7210 |
|
Paden &
Paden |
1722 2nd Avenue North,
Bessemer, 35020 |
424-4090 |
|
Parmer,
Jeff |
402 Office Park Drive,
Birmingham, AL 35223 |
871-1440 |
|
Parsons,
Liz |
1711 Cogswell Avenue, Pell
City, AL 35125 |
884-3440 |
|
Princiotta, Morris J.
Jr. |
2100-C Rocky Ridge Rd., Hoover
AL 35216 |
822-5440 |
|
Ramsey,
Wade |
Bldg. 300, Ste. 309, Office Pk.
Dr., Bham, AL 35223 |
879-9400 |
|
Randolph,
John |
2311 Highland Ave, B'ham, AL
35205 |
930-5112 |
|
Riley, Kristy
L. |
|
1000 Urban Center Drive, Suite
250, Bham, AL
35242
298-8043 |
|
Rives &
Peterson |
|
3100
Independence Drive, B'ham, AL 35209
879-5808 |
|
Rawson,
Buddy |
|
#2
Metroplex Dr., Suite 102, Bham, AL 35209
802-1100 |
|
RELI
(Gardendale) |
|
1]
44 Main Street, Gardendale, AL 35071
631-7407 |
|
RELI (Kent Stewart &
Assoc) |
|
3595
Grande View Pkwy, Ste 350 B'ham, 35243
969-3737 |
|
Romeo,
Mike |
|
15
Office Park Cir., B'ham, AL 35223
871-5859 |
|
Sexton,
Stephen |
|
2116 10th Ave South, B'ham, AL
35205
252-5361 |
|
Simmons &
Simmons |
|
1163
Center Point Pkwy Ste 100, Bham, AL
35215
854-1800 |
|
Smallwood, Sunny
Dawn |
|
9
Office Park Circle, Suite 109, Bham, AL 35223
414-0095 |
|
Snable,
Tony |
|
1629
11th Avenue South, Bham, AL 35205
939-0780 |
|
Southern Land
Title |
|
116 Cove Avenue, Gulf Shores,
AL 36542
968-7566 |
|
Stewart National
Title |
|
1144
Main Street, Gardendale, AL 35071
631-7407 |
|
Stevens,
James |
|
I
Chase Corp. Drive, Ste. 490, B'ham, AL 35244
982-8686 |
|
Skinner,
David |
|
2700
Rogers Drive, Suite 208, Bham, AL 35209
871-9566 |
|
Strickland, Anne
R. |
|
5330
Stadium Trace Pkwy., Ste. 250, Hoover
35244
733-1303 |
|
Strickland and
Smith |
|
4 Office Park Circle, Ste 212,
Bham, AL 35223
870-4440 |
|
Summers,
Alan |
|
1275
Center Point Road, Bham, AL 35215
853-3911 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
879-3400 |
|
|
|
871-0780 |
|
|
|
879-6751 |
|
Hamilton,
Woody |
4 Ofice Park Circle, Suite 303, Bham, AL
35223 |
871-0101 |
|
Hartman,
John |
2700 Hwy 280 South Ste 460 East Bham, AL
35223 |
879-0500 |
|
Hayes,
Kevin |
100
Concourse Parkway, Ste 101 Bham, AL
35244 |
733-1207 |
Moving
Tips
Moving can be a stressful experience for many. Trying to pack your life’s
belongings into boxes and living out of these boxes for a period of
time can be a real challenge.
Of course the level of difficulty will be different for
someone who has lived a few years in an apartment with packed
closets as compared to someone who has spent 20 or more years in a
house with packed attic, basement, garage, yard and who knows what
else. If you are the
latter, one of the most important and maybe most difficult things
you will have to do is decide what to keep and what to get rid
of. Have a garage sale,
give to a charity and friends, throw it out, but don’t try to move
it all. This is the
time to organize and trim down.
If your move is local, you will be able to make multiple
trips with the car or truck, which will make moving and locating
frequently used items easier.
However, for a long distance move where you make only one
trip, you should pack frequently used items and necessities
(toiletries, medicine, work clothes, etc) in clearly marked boxes
that can be located and opened easily. Remember, you will be tired
when you get to the new house and it may take weeks (or months) to
unpack and organize all your belongings. Having your necessities
available will allow you to function effectively during this
process.
Moving Companies-
If your move is local and you plan to rent a U-Haul or use a
local moving company like Two Men and a Truck you should have few if
any problems and your biggest concern may be over extending yourself
physically during the move.
However, if your move is long distance and you plan to
use a long distance moving company to make the move, you have some
shopping to do. All moving companies are not “created equal”
and if you pick the wrong one your move can become a
nightmare. There have been stories shown on “20/20” and other
programs where people’s furniture and belongings were held hostage
on a packed truck until the moving company received additional
charges that could run into thousands of dollars. A
good deal of helpful information can be found on the U.S. Government
website - ProtectYourMove.gov.
One of the keys to avoiding surprises is to get a firm price
for the move (in writing) that is guaranteed to stay firm, or not to
exceed a certain limit, regardless of any weight changes found after
the move. Moving costs are based on the weight of the
truck. Some companies will give you a low estimate on the
weight up front to get your business. They than have the truck
weighed on route to your new home and demand you pay the additional
charges before they unload the truck. When you read all the
print in the contract you will find that the “firm” price they gave
you originally was based on their weight estimate and since the
weight estimate was off, they have the right to adjust the price to
cover the corrected weight.
Bottom line is to use a reputable company with a good track
record and no complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau or
other agencies. Then
have a contract drawn up that clearly outlines how firm the price is
and what factors would cause it to be increased after the move. Big name alone is no
guarantee as some of these companies may be franchises run by local
independent operators.
Recommendations from friends and satisfied customers would be
a better indicator.
There are many good companies available and our intent is not
to scare you but to simply caution you as to one of the possible pit
falls of moving that can be avoided with some knowledge and
planning.
Back to
Top
Preparing
Your Home for Selling
The first thing a potential buyer sees when coming to view
your home is the front and perhaps side yards and the exterior of
the house. A mowed and
trimmed lawn and weeded garden can create a good first
impression. Shutters,
windows, front door, steps and garage doors should be in good
condition. If the house
needs painting it would be good to have it painted before putting it
on the market. All this
will give your home “Curb Appeal” which contributes to creating a
good first impression and is an essential element in selling your
home.
Rooms should be neat and clean and free of clutter. Get rid of items you don’t
need or use. Remove
unnecessary furniture to help make each room appear more
spacious. Buyers will
open closets and cupboards, so make sure they are as tidy as
possible.
Make repairs to broken items that are easily fixable such as
loose doorknobs, dripping faucets and squeaky doors. These items can get the
buyer’s attention and detract from your property’s true value. Making needed repairs now
can eliminate a buyer’s objections later.
Consider a home inspection. A pre-listing inspection
can help prepare you for issues you may not even know
esist; they then can be addressed long before they become
a roadblock to the closing. It can also help you obtain
the asking price. In a buyers' market, it helps to eliminate
any item that might be considered a negotiable point.
Make sure your home doesn’t have any strong odors that can
send potential buyers running out the door. Pets would be one major
source of these type odors.
Since we get accustomed to odors we are subjected to over
time, have a friend give you an honest evaluation and remove or
reduce any pet odors by shampooing carpets, or removing soiled
furniture. A musty or
moldy smell could lead a buyer to think there is a water
problem. If you move
prior to selling your home and it is going to be vacant for a period
of time, leave the heat or air conditioning set to minimize these
types of odors. Saving
on the utility bill by shutting down the heat and A/C could cost you
a sale.
You may have heard the advise of baking some bread or cookies
just before an open house or buyer walk through. Well this really does work
and is much more effective than an overly strong scent of air
freshener.
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