You've finalized a contract for your new home. Congrats! But, your work is far from done. There is a lot to do before closing to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Here is our closing checklist for home buyers:

Inspections and Testing

• Set up your home inspection and come prepared with questions you may have.
• Discuss any concerns you may have with your home inspector. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. The more informed you are about the home you are buying, the better your experience as a homeowner will be!
• Take any photos or measurements you may need to prepare for the move into your new home.
• Measure windows for window treatments, take photos of paint colors, and make notes about layout of the home that will help you be more prepared for move-in day.
• Make sure your agent is provided with a list of any issues found in the home inspection that need to be fixed prior to closing.
• Set up any specialty inspections you may need. Sometimes the main home inspector is certified in these areas and sometimes you'll need a specialist. Some of these specialty inspections might include mold inspection, radon gas inspection, or termite inspection and certification letter.

Communications with Lender and Attorney

• Touch base with your lender to verify they have all of the information they need from you, your real estate agent, and the seller to finalize all of the financials.
• Make sure the appraisal is taken care of (your real estate agent can also help keep tabs on this detail as well).
• Make sure a closing appointment is scheduled with a real estate attorney and notify your lender of the appointment to ensure all paperwork is ready in time for the closing appointment.

Two-Week Out Details
About two weeks out from closing, you'll want to make sure you've taken care of details that can often get lost in the shuffle.

• Notify your insurance company of the closing date and set up homeowner's insurance for your new home.
• Set up service (or transfer of service from your old home to the new) with your utility company (electric/gas) and the water company.
• Submit a change of address to the U.S. Postal Service two weeks ahead to give enough time for their forwarding service to be activated.
• Set up service (or transfer of service) for your internet, phone, and/or television service provider.

Final Walk-through
Your final walk-through should be between one to three days prior to closing.

• Ensure there have been no changes to the condition of the home since signing the contract and/or inspection. This could be damages caused when the previous owners moved out, appliances removed that should remain in the home, or anything else that seems questionable.
• Verify that repairs requested as a result of the home inspection have actually been completed. Receipts should be either left in the home or should have been provided to your real estate agent for the work. As a precaution, inspect the fixes to ensure they truly are fixed.

Having a closing checklist can help you keep track of everything that needs to happen between finalizing the contract and closing. And of course, your Century 21 Broadhurst agent will be there to guide you every step of the way.