As an experienced Canton REALTOR, I have worked with scores of home sellers over the years.
I have helped them through every stage of the home-selling process: from setting the initial list price to attending the closing.
By providing my expert advice and comprehensive resources at every stage of the process, I ultimately make the experience considerably easier for the home seller.
Today, I’m going to tell you about the home seller checklist I offer to all of my home sellers around closing time.
Selling Your Canton Property
Many home sellers think that their part is done as soon as they sign the purchase offer.
After all, it’s up to the home buyer to get final approval on the loan, get a home inspection and tie up all those loose ends to complete the purchase.
However, there are some final details that home sellers should handle before they finally hand over their house keys.
Here’s a list of things that every home seller should do after they remove all of their personal belongings and furniture but before they attend the final closing:
Compile seller disclosures, purchase contract and addendum. More than likely, you will be handed this complete closing package at closing but you may want to consider gathering these materials yourself and securing them in a safe place. You never known when you may need to reference these items down the road.
Clean the house. It’s up to the seller how clean they want to leave the house for the buyer. However, as a common courtesy, you may want to wipe down the cabinets, vacuum the carpet, etc. If you don’t have time, you may consider hiring a professional cleaning service. Essentially, you want to leave the home the way you would like to find it if you were the buyer.
Turn Off all Shut-Off Valves. For instance, if you’re taking your washer with you, make sure to turn off the shut-off valve so that there’s no risk of a small drip causing a flood in the home. If you do this, make sure to leave a note for the buyer so they know why the water is not working when they move in.
Stop Your Insurance Policies. Once the deed has been recorded or the title transfer has officially happened, call your insurance agent and cancel your policy.
Cancel or Transfer Your Various Subscriptions. From your newspaper to your utilities, you want to make sure the services you’re subscribed to are reaching you at your new residence.
Leave the home buyer all of your house keys, remotes, mailbox keys, pool keys, etc. More than likely, the home buyer will want to change the locks. But as a courtesy, make sure you leave all of these items in one place in the home for the buyer.
Gather all of your appliance manuals and warranties. From the HVAC to the sprinkler system, these information booklets – as well as any associated receipts and warranties – should be set out in an obvious location for the home buyer to reference.
Give the home one final check. Make sure all of the cabinets, drawers and storage units are cleared out of your belongings before you attend the final closing.
Close the blinds and lock the door. This may seem obvious but you’d be surprised at how many people forget these final steps. By locking the door and closing the blinds, you’re increasing the security of the home for the next buyer.
Your Dedicated Canton, Michigan REALTOR
If you’re just now considering listing your property on the Canton real estate market, you have a ways to go before you have to consider the final closing.
But hopefully you’ll find this information helpful when you reach that point down the road.
For more expert advice on navigating the market as a home seller, be sure to contact me, Noel Bittinger, today! We can’t wait to talk to you about how we can sell your home FAST for TOP DOLLAR!
Until next time,
Noel