Closing on your new home is an exciting, but detailed process. We are here to help ease the transition and make sure everything is covered. Whether this is your first or fifth home, here are three things to do before closing on your home.
1. Get a Home Inspection
Home inspections are a way for the buyer to understand everything about the property. A seller is required to disclose all matters that affect the value of the property, but sometimes things can be missed. Having a licensed inspector check the home before closing can save you if something is left out of the disclosure. Once you finalize the purchase, anything wrong with the property becomes your responsibility. If anything is found, you can request that the seller fix the issues or cancel the contract.
2. Estimate Closing Costs
Many people forget about closing costs when buying a home. Closing costs are the final payments made during the home-buying process. Before the purchase is official, the buyer must pay insurance, appraisal fees, taxes, and any other fees associated with buying the home. These costs can be anywhere from 2% to 5% of the total purchase price. Make sure to factor this cost into your savings plan so you are prepared at closing.
3. Get Home Insurance
Home insurance is a requirement from mortgage lenders before they agree to finance your home. Home insurance not only protects your property and your belongings, but it also protects the mortgage lender’s investment in your home. Home insurance can provide money to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged by a covered event, like a storm or fire. Home insurance also gives additional living expenses if you need somewhere to stay while your home is being repaired and can cover legal and medical expenses if someone is injured on your property.
Call or email us to get a quote from any of our A-rated 35+ carriers for your home insurance.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of things to do before closing on a home. Seek out a real estate professional before purchasing a home.
