What Should I Get From the Sellers at My Real Estate Closing?

Make sure you ask the seller for these key items at or before your closing

When the big day arrives to close on the purchase of your home, make sure you get everything you need. Many first time home buyers don't know what they should ask for when closing on their new home. If you have a good relationship with the seller, you can save a lot of time if they can give you more than just the keys.

Of course, the most important item you need to get at your closing is your deed. You attorney or title representative should get the deed from the seller. He or she will then record that deed and eventually you will get a certified copy of that deed for your records. Depending on the county where you live, getting a deed could take anywhere from a few weeks to six months. Your deed is your one proof that you own your home subject to any mortgage you have on the property.

After the deed, a complete set of keys is the second most important item to get from the sellers at closing. There may be keys for a main lock and dead bolt or different keys for a front and back door. If you are in a condominium or home owners association you may also need to get a separate mailbox key.

If you have a garage with an automatic garage door, ask the seller for the garage door opener. Many times home owners forget about the garage door openers and drive away with them in their cars.

A deed and keys are the required items that a home seller must provide to you at closing. Many home sellers have a very strong pride of ownership and are happy to provide you with important additional information about your new home that can save you time and money.

Get All Warranties & Service Agreements at your Real Estate Closing

Your home seller may have kept warranty documentation and service agreements for appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters and even roofs. While some service agreements terminate upon the sale of a home, some stay in place and can be useful if you need service in the future. For example, working with the vendor who installed your furnace may be better than working with a new company that is not as familiar with your particular heating equipment.

Home sellers may have lists of local service providers you may need. Everyone can benefit from having a reliable plumber standing by in case of a leak. And a handyman type of person can usually help with a lot of the small tasks that very often need to be taken care of after you move in.

Finally, the home seller has knowledge about the many little quirks of every home. Mechanical systems such as heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems can be finicky and make odd noises that may or may not be a problem. Or, these systems may require simple maintenance that can minimize the cost of a service call. For example, cleaning the filter on hot air heating system can keep your system from breaking when the filter becomes full. Having the seller's knowledge and experience can help you determine whether or not any problem you run into is normal and usual or urgent and potentially a big problem.