Closing
Your home sale is completed on closing day when ownership is officially transferred to the buyer. As closing day approaches, there are a number of tasks to complete:
- Hire a lawyer to represent your interests and manage documentation for closing day – you should do this as soon as you have a firm sale
- Satisfy any conditions you may be subject to in the offer.
- Arrange for your self-move requirements or obtain estimates from reputable moving companies and book as far in advance as possible.
- Contact utilities to have meters read on closing day and coordinate cancellations, transfers, and change-of-address notification for medical, financial and contracted services, licenses, subscriptions, memberships and personal mail.
- Organize the connection of services and utilities at your new home.
- Coordinate with your lawyer the receipt of compensation for prepaid utility expenses and the payment of real estate and legal fees from the proceeds of the sale.
- Meet with your lawyer to sign required closing documentation to discharge any mortgages, transfer the deed, and to provide the keys for the buyer.