Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, buying a home is always stressful. Not only is it the biggest purchase most of us will ever make, but it also involves a lot of paperwork and jumping through legal hoops.
The most important part of the homebuying journey is your closing day. This is when the finish line is in sight, but there’s still some last minute things to take care of.
First of all, don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate. After all, you did it!!!! You saved, you figured it all out, you got through the stress, and now you have a new home. Congrats!
But to help make sure your closing day goes smoothly, let’s take a look at what you should know:
- A final home walk-through. Before closing the deal, visit your soon-to-be new home for a final check. This should be done no later than the morning of, but preferably at least two days before, closing. That way, if something is amiss, you’ll have time to talk to the seller about it without affecting the sale.
- Utilities and the movers. Most of us will be ready to move ASAP, and at a minimum will want to ensure our new home has all the utilities turned on in our name, on closing day. While it might not seem critical, it’s smart to make sure that internet service is hooked up right away, too. You’ll likely want to be able to use your laptops and tablets, or even have access to Netflix, while you're setting up your new place.
- Paying closing costs. Be sure that you’ve either stopped at your bank to get a cashier’s check for your closing costs, or wired the money to your attorney in advance. Remember to bring your checkbook to the closing, too. Even though you’ll have been told the amount you need to close, something can change at the closing table, and you may need to write a personal check.
- Closing takes time. While everyone at the closing will work as quickly as possible, it can take time. There’s a huge stack of papers your agent will go through and explain to you, and you’ll likely sign your name at least 15 times. If you have any questions about what those terms mean, by all means ask the agent to pause and explain.
Landed's Principal Broker and Compliance Lead, Angie Kearns.
On your closing day you may have mixed emotions. That is not unusual, as it’s a big day and you are likely tired from all the preparation and stressed about the work ahead – moving, unpacking, getting settled in, etc.
Be sure to leave time to relax a bit, eat a meal, and remember that not everything has to be done right away.
And feel free to reach out to us, too – we always love to hear from the buyers we’ve partnered with to see how they are doing, and are happy to help them with any Landed-related questions!
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