Things That Make Your Transaction Go More Smoothly

Every transaction has its own rhythm, but these are the things that consistently make the difference between a smooth closing and a stressful one.

Money & Timing

• If you have an existing mortgage, let your lender know early. We’ll order your payout statement directly through the lender’s portal, but we’ll need your most recent mortgage statement first — with your name(s), account number, and rough balance — to get that started. Most lenders won’t process a payout request more than 3–5 days before closing, so earlier is better.
• Keep your property insurance in place through 12:01 am on your completion date, as most contracts require — and it doesn’t hurt to keep it active a little longer than that just in case.
• Start estimating your net proceeds about two weeks out. You won’t know the exact number yet, but you can get close based on your sale price, mortgage payout, real estate commission, and legal fees. If it looks like there may be a shortfall, it’s better to know now and plan for it than to be surprised at the signing table.
• Don’t leave town the week before closing.
• If you’re selling and buying at the same time, avoid setting both closings for the same date if at all possible.

Communication & Expectations

• Be available by phone in case we need to reach you.
• Check your email regularly during your transaction, including your spam or junk folder — a lot of what we send is time-sensitive.
• Tell us early and often about any issues or odd things that come up, even if they seem small.
• Don’t assume we already know about your agreements — especially verbal ones. If it isn’t in the contract, we don’t know about it.

Property & Move Logistics

• Watch your completion and possession times so you know exactly when you need to be out, and make sure your movers are booked around your actual times, not just a general “moving day.”
• Do a drive-by of the property a day or two before closing to check that nothing has changed that needs to be addressed — most seller contracts don’t allow for a formal walkthrough.
• Fill out your seller checklist to help keep yourself on track.