| Whether you are selling your own house FSBO or | | | | warranties at the house. If you had put together |
| for sale by owner or using an agent, the | | | | a sales scrapbook, you might want to leave that, |
| "count-down to closing" is the same. | | | | too (less any photos you care about). Leave |
| You got contract on your house. Inspections and | | | | leftover paint or paint chip samples, so the buyers |
| the appraisal have been done. Requested repairs | | | | can easily touch up. Walls always get dinged from |
| handled. The buyer's loan has been approved. The | | | | moving. Your buyers will really appreciate this. |
| title search is clear. Now you can set a firm date | | | | 6) Being professional and considerate towards |
| for closing, the final step in selling your house. | | | | your buyers while selling your house goes a long |
| Closing is a meeting between you, the buyers, | | | | way in smoothing out any rough spots. |
| real estate agents representing the buyer or the | | | | 7) The title company is required to get a copy of |
| seller, and a settlement agent. Closing should last | | | | the HUD-1 Settlement Statement to you 24 |
| around an hour. However, they can take much | | | | hours before closing so you can review it. You |
| longer, so don't have a plane to catch or bring | | | | might have to remind them. Take time to |
| small children! | | | | understand the HUD-1. This will make closing less |
| Closings can be stressful because there are so | | | | stressful and could save you money. You need to |
| many details that can and often do go wrong. | | | | be aware of what fees are legitimate and what |
| Fortunately, most of them are fixable. Closings | | | | are "junk fees". |
| can also boring because there is a lot of sitting | | | | At the closing, the settlement agent should go |
| around and waiting. | | | | over the HUD-1 line by line, answering any |
| The better you understand the process and take | | | | questions you or the buyer has. If they don't, you |
| action on the things you are responsible for, the | | | | have the right to ask them to. There'll be lots of |
| less stressful the closing will be for you. | | | | documents to be signed, particularly by the buyer. |
| Counting down to closing, here is what you need | | | | The buyer will need to bring a money order to |
| to do: | | | | the closing for the balance of the payment. No |
| 1) Everyone on the title of your house needs to | | | | personal checks allowed! |
| be at closing. If this is not possible, talk to the title | | | | You need to bring all your house keys, any alarm |
| company well ahead of time about making other | | | | combinations, and your driver's license. Towards |
| arrangements. | | | | the end of closing, you will present the keys to |
| 2) Call your gas and electric suppliers one week | | | | the house to the buyer. This will be an exciting |
| before closing and have the buyer do the same | | | | moment for them. You should leave with a |
| to transfer these services on the closing date. | | | | healthy check for your proceeds. This will be an |
| 3) When selling your house, you should always | | | | exciting moment for you! You will also leave with |
| schedule a walkthrough for your own protection. | | | | a stack of paperwork that you need to keep in a |
| You and the buyer meet at the property one last | | | | safe place while you move. Selling your house has |
| time just before closing and agree, "Yes, the | | | | tax implications. You'll need these documents next |
| house is in the same basic condition as when we | | | | year when preparing your taxes. |
| signed the sale contract." | | | | After you've closed, immediately cancel your |
| 4) Be sure you have removed all your personal | | | | homeowners insurance. If you offered to provide |
| belongings as well as the for sale sign, brochure | | | | your buyers a home warranty while you were |
| box, and lockbox. Leave the house in "broom | | | | selling your house, have the home warranty |
| clean" condition. | | | | company now transfer the policy to your buyers. |
| 5) Make sure you leave any appliance manuals or | | | | You're done! Congratulations on selling your house! |