Seller's Home Closing Checklist

Congratulations! You have sold your home and are moving on to the next chapter in your life. As you prepare to go to settlement, here are a few things to remember.

1. Keep your paperwork! Yes, you have a lot of paperwork involved in the sale of your home. What should you keep beyond the immediate future?
   1. Keep your seller disclosure. You've may have already indicated that not everything was brand new. You may, at some point in time, need proof that you disclosed something.
   2. Keep your settlement sheet. Some of the items are tax deductible and you'll need them at the next year's tax preparation time.
   3. If your Realtor did a good job, keep their card. You may have a question for them later or need their services at a later time.
   4. Keep a copy of your listing. Especially if you move several times, it will visually remind you of what the paperwork is for (not to mention a memory jogger)
2. Make sure you have paid receipts for taxes or utilities you've paid in the last few weeks before closing. The title company will have checked, but your payment may not have been posted in time. Bring these to settlement with you.
3. Clean the house. Your agreement of sale states the property should be broom cleaned. That means all personal belongings, trash and debris should be out of the house prior to the buyer's final walk through. You don't need to clean the carpets, but it's a nice touch. It's also a nice touch to wipe down the cabinets, inside and out. Make your last impression on the buyer by polishing sink fixtures or anything else that you would appreciate as a buyer.
4. Do not turn off water valves. Since buyers are inspecting the home during a final walk-through, they turn on faucets, flush toilets, turn on/off all lights, etc. to make sure things are in working order. It's not a bad idea for you to do the same so you get no surprises at the closing table.
5. Call the insurance company, cable and utility companies and inform them of the settlement date. If you have any home deliveries, such as the newspaper, now is the time to inform them of your move. This should be done about 3 days in advance. This will give them enough notice to provide final billing information and await the buyer's call to start up in their name. Not a bad idea to fill out a change of address form at the post office, too.
6. Locate all your keys. Did you loan a key to a neighbor? Do your kids have keys? Collect them all. Find remotes for garage doors, ceiling fans, mail boxes, etc. These need to be turned over to the buyer. Bring at least 1 set with you to closing. The rest you can put in a drawer, leave them on a countertop or put them on a shelf. Just make sure to tell the buyer where they are.
7. Find all of the appliance or owner's manuals or warranties for items left in the home. If you have any receipts or bill of sale for things you replaced, make a copy for yourself and leave the originals with the manuals in a drawer.
8. Double check all cabinets, drawers and closets for personal belongings one last time to make sure nothing was missed.
9. Close up the house. Pull blinds down, shut drapes, turn off all lights and lock the door. Sometimes these obvious items are the ones most overlooked.
10. Relax and good luck! You're ready to move on.