Sellers – What To Do in the Days Prior to Closing

The process of selling your home involves many steps, each with their own activities and details for you to attend to.  Today we are going to talk about what happens after your inspection and appraisal have been completed.  Usually at this point you have a week to three weeks to wait until the closing date. 

Have you arranged a mover?  If you are moving yourself now is the time to schedule/reserve a truck and begin gathering boxes and packing supplies.  If you are hiring a mover you should schedule for them to load the truck the day of closing.  While it is rare that a deal falls apart at this late stage, it occasionally happens, so I never recommend that you have the truck loaded and the drivers leave with all of your possessions before you get to the closing table.  Typically you have a day or two after closing to vacate the home, so schedule accordingly. 

The buyers will want to walk through the home prior to closing.  This allows them to be sure that you have completed the agreed upon inspection items (have any receipts from such work available for them), and to see that the home is in the same condition as it was when they agreed to purchase.  Do not take the chandelier that you like out of the dining room and replace it with a cheap Home Depot one – or even worse, just leave the wires hanging! The buyers expect to see such items just as they were when they viewed the home.  

If you are giving the buyers possession of the home at closing be sure to bring the keys and garage door openers with you.  It is also a nice touch to provide them with a packet of all the documentation that they may need for items pertaining to the home (think manuals for appliances, sprinkler system, warranties for the roof, the water heater, the furnace, etc.).  I like to recommend you take one set of keys and one garage door opener to closing and leave the other keys and this packet at the home in a drawer and be sure to tell the buyers which drawer!   Additionally you should be sure to bring your driver’s license to the closing. 

A week before closing you should call the local utility companies to transfer the service out of your name, tell the companies you are selling the home and need a final reading and give them your new address to send the final bill to.  Arrange for the final readings for the day of closing.  Some general reminders of services you should notify: trash service; sewer/water service; electric and gas service; newspaper; internet provider; cable provider; home owners insurance; post office. 

It is expected that the home will be “broom clean” when you leave, this means do not leave trash or unwanted items in the house or yard or the garage.  If you have extra paint, stain, furnace filters or any other items for the house that the new owner can use those items can be left.  

Good Luck in your new home & happy moving day!

Carol Murphy

Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West ~ Carol Murphy Team

Avon Lake Real Estate