As a seller, you have a million things to do before your house closes. Things can easily fall through the cracks if you are not careful. This is the reason that you’ll want to begin preparing for your closing as soon as your home has an accepted. Here are a seven things a seller should do before closing (please consult with your real estate agent to see what is required in your state).
Notify, Notify, Notify
You should notify everyone that you are moving two to three weeks before your actual moving date. Go to the post office to complete an address change form as it does take time for the post office to process the change of address request. Your life can become very stressful if you do not receive important bills at your new address.
Confirm The Movers
Even though you hired a contractor to help you move on the day you received an accepted offer, it is a good idea to confirm with the movers. This ensures everyone is on the same page with timing and date.
Transfer Your Utilities
The utility companies will continue to charge you for utilities, even if you no longer live there. You should contact the utility companies prior to your move to request for the service to be transferred to your new address. Let them know that the new buyer will be moving into the house and provide your closing date. It is the buyer’s responsibility transfer the services into their name.
Clean Thoroughly
Once all of your belonging have been removed from the home, thoroughly clean the home. If you do not have time to do a deep clean, you can hire a cleaning service to do this for you. Do a walk through after your appointment to be sure the home is clean and you did not forget any belongings.
Gather the Keys, Remotes, Etc.
People often forget this step. People typically enter their home through the unlocked house door and do not even know where the key is located. Place all of these items in a drawer or leave them on the counter for the new owners. You will need to provide a key at the closing for the new owner to enter the home.
Collect Manuals & Warranties
You can gather all the manuals and warranties for appliances, heating and air conditioning units, etc. to provide to the new owners so it will be an easy transition.
Lock It Up
Be sure to close and lock all doors and windows before you leave the home for the final time. This will deter break-ins while no one is living in the home.
The process of moving is stressful. Hopefully this list has given you some things to think about before the your closing.