Once you’ve accepted an offer on your home, closing day may feel like the finish line. There are still several important steps between here and there, though, and knowing what to expect can make the final stretch much easier. Some parts of the process will be handled by other professionals, while others will need your attention. I’ll help you keep track of what matters, what needs to happen next, and what you can do to help your sale reach the closing table as smoothly as possible.
BEFORE CLOSING
After the offer is accepted, there will be important dates, contingencies, and other requirements outlined in the purchase agreement. You don’t need to memorize every one of them. I’ll keep track of the transaction as it moves forward, let you know what needs your attention, and help you understand what’s happening along the way.
You may be asked to provide information or documentation to the title company, settlement agent, closing attorney, or other professionals involved in the transaction. Depending on your location and circumstances, that could include mortgage or lien information, identification, marital-status documentation, association information, or other items needed for closing. If you’re unsure why something is being requested or where it fits into the process, ask. It’s much easier to resolve questions early than when closing day is right around the corner.
This is also the time to make sure anything you agreed to complete before closing stays on track. If repairs, replacements, or other work were negotiated as part of the sale, complete them within the required timeframe and keep receipts or other documentation when appropriate. And before making any significant changes to the property, talk with me first. Until ownership transfers, the goal is to keep the home in the condition the buyer is expecting.
As closing approaches, you should receive information showing the financial details of your sale, including applicable credits, expenses, loan payoffs, and the amount you’re expected to receive or provide at closing. Don’t feel as though you need to simply accept the numbers because they’re on an official-looking document. Review them carefully, and if something doesn’t make sense or appears incorrect, bring it up. Finding a discrepancy early gives the appropriate professionals more time to address it before closing.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Real estate transactions are frequent targets for wire fraud. Criminals may compromise email accounts and send convincing messages containing fraudulent wiring instructions. Never rely solely on wiring instructions received by email. Before sending money or acting on instructions involving the transfer of funds, independently verify the information using a trusted phone number or another secure method provided by your closing professional. If wiring instructions suddenly change, stop and verify them before taking any action.
Shortly before closing, the buyer will typically have an opportunity to conduct a final walk-through. Think of this as one last check that the property is generally in the condition required by the purchase agreement and that agreed-upon items have been addressed. Before the walk-through, we’ll want to make sure the home is ready, agreed repairs are complete, and anything that is supposed to remain with the property hasn’t accidentally been packed away.
DURING CLOSING
Exactly how closing works will depend on your location and transaction. You may sign at a title or settlement office, an attorney’s office, remotely, or at another arranged location. Before closing day, make sure you know where and when you’re expected to sign, what identification you’ll need, and whether anything else needs to be provided or completed beforehand.
When it’s time to sign, give yourself permission to slow down. You may see the deed and other documents necessary to transfer ownership, settlement or closing statements, and forms specific to your transaction. Read what you’re signing, and if something doesn’t look right or you don’t understand it, ask for an explanation before you sign.
The settlement agent, closing attorney, title professional, or other closing representative will handle many of the final details according to local practice. My role is to stay engaged in the transaction, help you understand the real estate side of what’s happening, and help address issues that may arise within the scope of my role. You shouldn’t have to wonder what comes next or whom to ask when you have a question.
AFTER CLOSING
Once the transaction has closed according to the requirements in your area, ownership transfers to the buyer. Before you close the door on your home for the last time, make sure you’ve removed everything you’re supposed to take, left behind anything included in the sale, and provided the appropriate keys, garage door openers, access devices, codes, manuals, or other agreed-upon items.
Keep copies of your closing documents and other important records from the sale somewhere safe and accessible. You may need them later for tax, financial, or recordkeeping purposes.
There are a lot of details between accepting an offer and completing a home sale, but you don’t have to figure out the path on your own. I’ll stay involved through the final stages, help you understand what deserves your attention, and guide you through the questions and decisions that come up along the way. With good preparation and communication, closing day can feel less like one more thing to worry about and more like what it really is: the successful completion of your home sale.