To-Do Before Closing

Celebrate!!!

Alert your lender that you have bought a house! He will let you know what he needs from you (I will get him a copy of your contract).

1. Begin shopping around for Homeowner's Insurance (your lender will recommend some companies to you).
2. Cancel Homeowner's Insurance on your current property two days AFTER settlement.
3. Hire/schedule moving company.

3 Weeks Before Settlement

1. You will receive a letter from the settlement company introducing themselves and asking for information. Call me if you have any questions or concerns with their package.
2. Keep all homeowner's documents in one file. Keep kids' current health records handy during move.
3. Drain oil and gas from your power equipment. For items of value, obtain appraisal and gather receipts. Donate items to Salvation Army - save receipts.
4. Make arrangements to take off work on settlement day.
5. If you want cable/satellite TV on "Day 1" in your new home, schedule it now!
6. Schedule maid service to clean your new home. 

2 Weeks Before Settlement

1. Alert the Post Office  via my website of your change of address for forwarding.
2. Go to Useful Links and click on Change of Address button at the top of the page.
3. Reconfirm moving date/time with movers.

1 Week Before Settlement

1. Don't hesitate to call the settlement company with any questions. (They will not be able to give the exact amount you must bring to settlement until literally the "eleventh hour"- most likely, the day before settlement.) As the settlement company needs information from you, they will be in touch.
2. Call and have utilities put in your name as of the day of settlement. (Gas, phone, electric, water, cable, etc.) Have service turned off at your old address.
3. Pack your "Survival Kit" for the first few days in your new home (toilet paper, sheets, tooth brush, paper towels, cleaning solution, sponge, broom, medication, keys, new phone number, disposable utensils, plates, payment for movers).
4. Update or open new Bank Accounts.
5. Defrost freezer- get rid of perishable food you won't eat before moving.

Day Before Settlement

1. Have settlement company tell you the exact amount of funds you are to bring to settlement. Payment must be made in the form of a cashier's check paid to the order of the Settlement Company. (The settlement company will not be able to give you an exact figure until literally the day before or even the morning of settlement.)

Day of Settlement

We will perform a walk-through at the property one hour before settlement. We will inspect the property to ensure that all home inspection and walk-through items were completed by the seller and verify the home is in the same condition it was when our contract was written. This usually takes about 45 minutes.

Settlement takes about 1 to 1 ½ hours to complete. After that, you own the home, receive the keys, and are free to move in that day!!

Change locks on doors of your new home.

Add your settlement sheet to your Homeowner's file. I will send you a reminder at tax time of all the SIGNIFICANT write-offs you are now entitled to!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW HOME.

Remember, my service to you doesn't end at the settlement table. Please call me if you have any questions about your new home purchase.