My offer has been accepted, what do I do now?

Schedule your inspection.  Your agent should be able to give you contact information for at least 3 different licensed and qualified inspectors.  You can call them and choose who you would like to work with.  It is good to meet with the inspector on the scheduled date and have him walk through the house with you to show you any issues.  You usually pay the inspector at the time of the home inspection.  If there is anything you feel needs to be repaired or replaced by the sellers, you have the chance to request those repairs.  If negotiations fail, you can decide if you would like to move forward or walk away from this offer. 

Keep in touch with your lender.   Your lender will be in touch with you regarding documents they may need.  Make sure to get those documents to them in a timely manner.  Also, your appraisal will be ordered by your lender.  The appraisal is important to make sure you don’t pay more than the home is worth.  They use the sale price of similar homes in your area to figure what your new home is worth.  It is important to not change jobs or apply for new credit while in the home buying process.  These things can have a negative impact on your credit score.  I will also be in contact with your lender and we will work as a team.

Get your homeowners insurance set up.  Your home has to be insured to protect you and your mortgage lender.  You cannot close on the home without insurance if you have a loan.

Give notice. If you are renting, make sure you let your landlord know when you are moving out.  In most cases you will have to give 30 days of notice.  Also, utilities will need to be switched to your new place for the day of closing.

Do a walk through with your Realtor. A few days before your home sale closes you will walk through the house.  This is to make sure the home is in the same condition as you saw it last and all the repairs you requested have been finished to your satisfaction.

Remember, I am here for you. If you have any questions, call me.  It’s my job to watch for all the details.  I have been through this process many times so remember, I am just a phone call away.