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As a real estate agent with a home under contract, you’re probably quite pleased with yourself. You did the legwork to find the home buyer client. You answered their questions and helped them get pre-approved for a mortgage.
You also researched and showed the buyers dozens of homes to help them find that perfect one… and then you helped them negotiate the best deal on the home. It feels REALLY good, right?
Even though you may have been bending over backward to please and serve your clients for months – or even years – all of those good feelings and future referrals can fly right out the window if the last phase of their transaction isn’t a smooth one.
We want to make sure that the week before closing on a home and the actual closing day is a BIG success, so here are ten very important steps you need to take to make this day stress-free and hopefully FUN for your home buyers…
Confirm that any home repairs have been completed by the seller and if needed, get a copy of the paid repair receipts on the contractor letterhead
Double-check to ensure that the buyer was able to schedule service or transfer the utilities, so there are no issues on move-in day!
It’s also a good idea to provide them with a list of utility companies and contact information about 10 days prior to closing on the home.
Confirm with the closing attorney that they received the home warranty order (if it was part of the contract).
Do a walk-through of the home a few days before closing to ensure that it is in the same condition and make sure the buyer personally inspects any home repairs that were completed by the home seller.
If there were any substantial repairs made, we highly recommend asking the home inspector to come back out and confirm that repairs were made as specified in the contract. Usually, they will recheck the home for a minimal fee ($100 to $250, depending on the area and size of home).
Confirm that the buyer has the correct instructions for the wire transfer (if needed) and then contact the closing attorney’s office to confirm that they received the wire.
Ask the lender or the closing attorney for a copy of the preliminary settlement statement. Review to ensure that everything is correct (i.e. earnest money amount, commissions, home warranty, etc).
Send your home buyer client a reminder about the closing 24 to 48 hours prior to closing and be sure to include:
Gather all the relevant documents from the transaction and put them in a professional portfolio or folder so that the buyer can use it as a reference in the years to come. A few things we recommend adding to your packet:
You can order portfolios or folders from several different vendors that have your name, logo and business card attached. EAZCO offers a wide variety of portfolios and VistaPrint has some affordable folder options.
Follow up with the co-op agent to make sure that they’ve removed the ‘for sale’ signage and lockbox from the home. Also, confirm that they will bring all the home keys and garage door openers to the closing.
Really make it special for your home buyers! Here are just a few ideas to make it fun and stress-free:
Always (always) follow up with a hand-written thank you note. Depending on your relationship with the new homeowner, you may want to drop by after they move in or take them out for a celebratory lunch or dinner. If they have children, leaving something special in the new home for the kids is always a big hit (i.e. dollhouse, wood letters with their name(s), etc).
Whatever you do, make your home buyers feel special and show them how much you appreciate their business!
Editor’s note: This article was created by Kerry Lucasse, Agent/Owner at eXp Realty. Information deemed reliable but is subject to change.
At Building Better Agents, we are dedicated to helping agents build successful real estate careers. We help agents develop a plan, build a database, and work smarter to uncover the keys to success as a real estate agent. All without cold calling, door knocking, and chasing expired listings. Building Better Agents Leaders Kerry Lucasse and Kary Perry are proud to be agents with eXp Realty.
For more information, please contact us today!
Please note: This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
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