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Closing on a house in two days

Don't assume that your inspector caught everything.

We've got a wet basement that was sold to us as 'totally dry', when our inspector was fooled by just enough insulation to hide the issue visually (literally a 1" strip blocking visibility).
 
Be prepared for something to happen at the end, so many times you hear about something popping up. Some paperwork wasn't faxed or someone shows up late to the signing... always seems to be something to keep it from going smoothly.

But good luck to you, hope it is smooth 🙂
 
I'd double check the numbers (especially any escrow data). Surprisingly, banks and title companies are horrible with getting numbers accurate. It is far easier to correct them now than during the closing (or having to wait a year or two if done after the closing).

Line up any companies/tools that you want when you move in. I cleaned the carpets after closing. It is far easier to do it when the movers haven't put all your furnature in yet. Same goes with painting (it is easier before the heavy dresser is up against the wall).

Get your cashiers check for your downpayment (although you might wait until closing day for that).
 
Make sure of when you will be getting keys/possession before you sign anything. The sellers' realtor was a giant punk throughout the whole process, and tried to say after closing that he or the sellers never received the paperwork to bump up closing and possession one week early, but it was THEIR decision to bump it up. He was just being a prick one last time, ultimately we got in, but it was a stressful day that didn't need to happen.
 
nerp said:
Prepare for large unexpected costs.
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There aren't supposed to be any, but many times the lender will at the last moment surprise you with a few thousand dollars extra. Tell them to pound sand.

And read every single document you sign, don't sign if you don't agree with it.
 
Perform a thorough walk-thru and if anything needs to be corrected and had already been agreed upon, do not close and/or have your lawyer amend the contract with a hold-back or reduction in price.
 
spidey07 said:
There aren't supposed to be any, but many times the lender will at the last moment surprise you with a few thousand dollars extra. Tell them to pound sand.

And read every single document you sign, don't sign if you don't agree with it.
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And be prepared to walk away if you tell them to pound sand and they insist on the few extra thousand. Happened to me at closing. I ended up walking out of the closing telling the builder to give me some time to get another lender. Two days later the original lender called back apologizing for the mix up.
 
spidey07 said:
There aren't supposed to be any, but many times the lender will at the last moment surprise you with a few thousand dollars extra. Tell them to pound sand.

And read every single document you sign, don't sign if you don't agree with it.
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Ask for the closing docs in advance of the closing if you insist on reading every single page. Nobody wants to waste hours while one person mumbles to themselves.
 
RKS said:
Ask for the closing docs in advance of the closing if you insist on reading every single page. Nobody wants to waste hours while one person mumbles to themselves.
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I'm giving you a shit ton of my money, damn straight you're going to sit here while I read everything I sign.
 
spidey07 said:
I'm giving you a shit ton of my money, damn straight you're going to sit here while I read everything I sign.
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I would tend to agree, but I'm not that much of an ass. If they're willing to send me the documents before hand so I can read them, great. Just be sure the documents you're signing on the same ones you've read.

When I closed, I skimmed the paperwork. And my realtor and closer did a good job explaining things to me, at least, there haven't been any nasty surprises yet.
 
spidey07 said:
I'm giving you a shit ton of my money, damn straight you're going to sit here while I read everything I sign.
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I can assure you the person doing the closing isn't getting much of your 'shit ton'. I guess a solution to dealing with pretentious clients could be to hand them the docs and check back in a couple hours.
 
rudder said:
And be prepared to walk away if you tell them to pound sand and they insist on the few extra thousand. Happened to me at closing. I ended up walking out of the closing telling the builder to give me some time to get another lender. Two days later the original lender called back apologizing for the mix up.
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I was worrying about this when I was shopping for loans and tried to pin down exactly what fees they could throw in at the last minute. The nearest I could figure after much reading, is that there aren't too many JUNK fees that they can include that total a few thousand dollars. There may be unexpected fees such as the prepaid interest, but this is money you owe anyway and fluctuates wildly based on what time of the month that you'll be closing. I'm not using my lender's title service so they can't add any titling fees. The taxes are the taxes, no getting out of that. They can throw in junk "Document Prep" fees or "Desk Crossing" fees but they would be how much? A few hundred?

I think it's pathetic though, how the whole home buying process is constructed in a way that's meant to confuse and disorient you.
 
RKS said:
I can assure you the person doing the closing isn't getting much of your 'shit ton'. I guess a solution to dealing with pretentious clients could be to hand them the docs and check back in a couple hours.
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How does READING a contract that you're being asked to sign, count you as pretentious?
 
Triumph said:
How does READING a contract that you're being asked to sign, count you as pretentious?
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By taking up everyone else's time digesting every word in a lengthy contract. Most of it is boilerplate language anyway and since it can be requested prior to closing; you could play down the self-importance and read it at your convenience.
 
RKS said:
By taking up everyone else's time digesting every word in a lengthy contract. Most of it is boilerplate language anyway and since it can be requested prior to closing; you could play down the self-importance and read it at your convenience.
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ridiculous. i'm speechless. and what if the lender doesn't give it to you ahead of time? i guess i should worry about wasting the car salesman's time by reading the contract he wants me to sign as well? i've never in my life come across someone who recommends NOT reading a contract because you are wasting other people's time, especially when it's the single largest purchase in your life.

if that makes me pretentious, then you know what, i am. my time IS worth more than yours in this situation.
 
Triumph said:
ridiculous. i'm speechless. and what if the lender doesn't give it to you ahead of time? i guess i should worry about wasting the car salesman's time by reading the contract he wants me to sign as well? i've never in my life come across someone who recommends NOT reading a contract because you are wasting other people's time, especially when it's the single largest purchase in your life.

if that makes me pretentious, then you know what, i am. my time IS worth more than yours in this situation.
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After reading your response; I highly recommend you spend twice the average time in reading any contract /waivers that you come across.

1. Most lenders/closing/title companies would be more than happy to provide the contract before hand so you can read it at your leisure and come to closing prepared to ask relevant questions. If they don't or can't provide it; then by all means you should look over it at the closing.

2. I never said you shouldn't read a contract but I guess you also examine any activity waiver, backs of parking tickets and stubs from ball games.
 
RKS said:
After reading your response; I highly recommend you spend twice the average time in reading any contract /waivers that you come across.

1. Most lenders/closing/title companies would be more than happy to provide the contract before hand so you can read it at your leisure and come to closing prepared to ask relevant questions. If they don't or can't provide it; then by all means you should look over it at the closing.

2. I never said you shouldn't read a contract but I guess you also examine any activity waiver, backs of parking tickets and stubs from ball games.
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Yea you did , you called people that read contracts "pretentious". And those waivers on the back of tickets; I do not sign them and they do not hold up in court.
 
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