Team McNair ~ Evelyn & Dee McNair, REALTOR®-Associates in Mendham, Morris County, NJ

There’s a lot to be done in the weeks leading up to the closing, and being well organized will save you some headaches and prevent delays. You should set up a file with all of your closing related documentation and have it readily available.

A competent REALTOR® and thorough attorney will ensure that nothing is overlooked. You should expect them to be in constant contact with you regarding the following:

Payment of Deposit Funds
The Contract likely calls for the Buyer to make an additional deposit(s) within a certain time period. A Buyer’s failure to produce these funds (your security until closing) could be a sign of trouble.
Inspections and Contingencies
In addition to the deposit, the Contract will specify time constraints for inspections, a mortgage commitment and possibly other items. Adhering to these deadlines will help prevent other delays.
Inspection Reports
Commonly, the home inspection leads to requests that the Seller make some repairs ... hopefully few and minor. Still, these become Seller’s contingencies and will need to be addressed before closing.
Payoff Letters
Any current mortgages or home loans will generally be paid at closing from the Seller’s proceeds. Therefore, your attorney will request account information in order to obtain balances.
Municipal Approvals
New Jersey State Law requires that you provide a Smoke Detector Certificate at closing. Your REALTOR® can advise you of this process – generally scheduling an appointment with your town’s fire inspector and paying a nominal fee. Depending on municipal requirements, you may need other approvals (septic, well) as well.
Information for the Buyer
Although rarely “required”, it is common courtesy to provide the Buyer with any relevant documents: surveys, septic designs, service records, appliance manuals, building permits from past projects, etc. Utility company names and contact information can also be helpful.
Moving Day
It’s never too soon to start packing things you are unlikely to need before you move. Nor can you book the movers too far in advance; but be sure to inquire about their cancellation/change policy, since even absolute closing dates have been known to change. A week or two before moving day, you should arrange to have mail forwarded, utilities shut off, and services cancelled.