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A Closing Checklist for Home Sellers

There are many steps involved in selling your home, and the final one — closing — is one of the most important. This is when you legally transfer ownership of your home to the buyer.

The home-selling process can sometimes feel overwhelming, so we recommend creating and using checklists for each step along the way. This will help you get organized and ensure you don't forget anything.

Here are some of the most important things you'll want to add to your closing checklist.

1. Prepare Your Home

As you prepare to sell your home, start by gathering items the new homeowner will need. This includes owners' manuals for appliances, warranty information, garage door openers, and extra keys. Before heading out to your closing, leave these items on the counter where the new owners will easily see them.

Also, give your home one last cleaning and take some time to check all the drawers, closet shelves, and so on. Since closing is the final step to selling your home, once you leave the meeting, it's no longer yours and you can't return. This is why it's so critical to ensure that you've removed everything you intend to keep.

Finally, shut off the water valves to sinks, toilets, the water heater, and the appliances. This will help prevent accidental flooding. Just make sure you let the buyer know so they don't think there's a problem and call a plumber. And don't forget to lock up everything securely.

2. Gather Your Documents

To make the process of selling your home go smoothly, it's important to stay organized. As you prepare for closing, make sure you have all of the necessary documents, including:

A photo ID for all sellers
One set of keys to the home
Security codes (if applicable)
Documentation of any contractually-required repairs
The deed to your house (if you own it outright)

Along with these documents, if you owe money, you'll also need to bring a cashier's check to the closing or wire the amount owed to the escrow account. If money is owed to you, you can expect to receive a check or have it wired into your account before you leave.

3. Understand Your Agreement

During the closing process, you'll review the contract and all the other paperwork and agreements that apply to selling your home. You'll have a final chance to review things like:

Your remaining mortgage balance
The realtor commissions
Any outstanding bills (property taxes, utilities, HOA fees, homeowners insurance, etc.)
Escrow and/or attorney fees
Title fees

Pay close attention to these details, and ask questions if anything doesn't sound right.

4. Cancel Your Insurance and Utilities

When you leave the closing, the process of selling your home is done! However, there are a few more important things to do. If you haven't already made arrangements, you'll want to immediately reach out to your utility company and your homeowner's insurance provider to cancel these services.

You don't want to pay for these things any longer than you have to, but it's also important to wait until you've finalized selling your home before canceling. This way, the home is protected up until the moment that it's no longer yours.

5. File Your Paperwork

The last step in selling your home is to file all the closing documents somewhere safe. You may want to scan a digital copy to store in the cloud and keep the original paperwork in a filing cabinet or safe.

Selling your house is an exciting time, and there's no reason to stress over your closing. Just follow this checklist, and you'll be fine!

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A Closing Checklist for Home Sellers

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