Inspections are cleared and repairs have been made. The end of your home-selling process is in sight; all you have left is to close the deal.
As the word implies, closing is a term that refers to wrapping up any and all loose ends. Once closed, the deal is done.
For sellers, a lot has gone into your home to get it to this point, and some nerves and excitement are expected. The final sign-off for sellers often happens a few days before the buyers officially close.
Prepare the house for the final walkthrough
Sellers shouldn't be involved or present at the final walkthrough. Still, they need to have the house ready for the buyers to visit and inspect one last time before closing. This means they will have moved out and taken care of any repairs they agreed to make.
"The final walk-through is the last opportunity the buyer has to make sure the purchase is in the agreed-upon condition," said Alexei Morgado, a Miami, Florida-based real estate agent and founder of Lexawise Real Estate Exam Preparation. "Problems that occur during the walk-through give the buyer the right to request repairs, a price adjustment and in some cases, a delay in closing."
Ensure that any furniture or appliances included in the sale are still present in the home and are in good condition.
After moving, it’s recommended to clean or have the home cleaned professionally. You should also keep the utilities and home insurance going until closing. Buyers will want to have lights on when they come for the walkthrough.
Sign documents
Many sellers end up signing their part of the closing documents a few days before the buyer closes.
"The physical closing usually takes typically 30 to 45 minutes," said Lynette Arrasmith, an Omaha, Nebraska-based home loan specialist with Churchill Mortgage.
You will either need the deed to your home, if it has been paid off in full, or the mortgage payoff statement with the remaining balance.
The sellers will need to bring the following items to closing:
- The deed or mortgage payoff statement
- A valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport
- Certified check, if required by escrow
- Keys and any security codes, if the buyer takes possession at closing
- Bank account details
Once you have the necessary components, you will sign a series of documents to legally transfer the ownership. This important legal paperwork will be handled by a closing agent, title company or attorney. The legal professional will aid in making sure everything is signed properly.
What you will likely sign:
- Deed transferring ownership to the buyer
- Affidavits confirming your right to sell
- Closing statement detailing final financials
- Settlement statements (if applicable)
- Certificate of title
- Loan payoff documents
- Mechanic’s lien releases
- Bill of sale
- Statement of information
After you sign, the buyers will go through a similar process and provide their funding.
Pay off obligations and receive proceeds
Before the seller can get paid, they must settle the difference owed to their mortgage and pay closing costs. They will also need to take care of any home equity loans, property taxes or homeowners association dues owed. If you were responsible for any closing fees, those will also be subtracted from the total.
If you hired a broker or agent, you will need to fund their commission fee from the sale. The amount can vary, but it’s typically calculated by a percentage of the sale price.
Whatever is left is your proceeds. This will look different for each seller depending on how much of the mortgage they paid off. If you have paid off 75% of the mortgage, then you will see greater proceeds compared to a seller with only 30% of the mortgage paid off.
"Sellers will receive their sale proceeds after the loan of their buyer is funded, or money that is received from a cash buyer," Arrasmith said. "The title company will process the transaction and wire the funds or have a cashier’s check ready for the seller an hour or so after closing."
Keys are transferred
Once the buyer’s financing is cleared and the deed is recorded, the agent will pass along the keys, and the deal will officially be closed.
As the seller, your part is done. Make sure to keep a copy of the signed documents for tax purposes and future reference.
You will be able to contact your insurance company and cancel the coverage on that property, as the buyer will be taking over.
What could go wrong?
There is always a possibility that something goes wrong when selling a home. Delays can happen for several reasons. For instance, the buyer’s financing may have run into a snag.
"The consumer will experience delays in closing due to issues stemming from the loan approval process, a low appraisal and inspection problems to name a few," Morgado said.
Contingencies are where many sales get hung up. The appraisal could come in low, or the inspection might reveal mold.
"In some cases, the buyer can cancel the contract if the inspection contingency allows for it," Arrasmith said. "This process helps buyers fully understand the condition of the home before finalizing the purchase."
Another cause for delay is disputes of ownership. If the property is inherited and/or there are co-owners listed, they will also need to sign off on the sale.
If, for any reason, this sale does not work out with the buyer, you can relist the home.
"If necessary, a cancellation would be signed by all parties so the seller can put their house back on the market," Arrasmith said.
The best thing sellers can do to help the sale proceed smoothly is to ensure they have all the necessary documents and information required for the sale.