How to have a smooth closing and not de-rail it - Michigan home selling tips
Nothing is worse than sitting at a closing and the buyer refusing to sign because of issues at the house. Let's go over what could de-rail your closing and how to stop it from happening. I want your home closing to be stress free. There is no sense running around and having to do things at the last minute. So let's go over some common issues I see at home closings. Let's go over a few good tips for a smooth closing.
Selling your Michigan home can be stressful and confusing sometimes. One of the first pieces of advice is to read over the purchase offer completely before you sign it. Once you sign it you cannot change it. The dates, what you agree is part of the sale is binding. The buyer expects you to live up to the contract, just like you expect them to live up to the contract. To me it is all old hat and common things to do, but to many Metro Detroit home sellers some of the things that happen during the home selling process may be strange to you. My goal is to help you understand why we have to do these things and make your life less stressful. Many times buyers and sellers get upset at what they have to do because they do not realize it is a standard part of the real estate process.
So I want to go over the top tips for a smooth closing. Number one. Taking something that you are not supposed to will cause problems at the closing. Sometimes sellers forget what is on the purchase agreement. I have had a seller take the washer and dryer when they were supposed to leave it. The buyers ended up getting a $1000 to replace them. I knew somebody that was going through a divorce. The wife was mad and took the refrigerator even though she knew it was part of the purchase agreement. She wanted to get back at the husband. The closing was delayed while the husband and wife argued about it. Finally the husband gave in and they paid for a new refrigerator for the buyers. That was not a smooth closing. So reread the purchase agreement and leave what you are supposed to.
Another Michigan real estate tip is to leave everything attached to the house or ground. You cannot take curtain rods, or TV wall mounts, or shelves attached to the wall. If you have a shed in the back yard or a big wood play set that is in the ground you cannot take it. If you want a smooth closing then you must leave anything attached to the house or ground. Believe or not I once had a seller try to take the light fixtures. If you want to keep something dear to you take it down before you list the home.
The second top tip for a smooth closing is to have the house broom clean. You cannot leave your junk in the house. The home must be relatively clean as if you took a broom through the whole house. Hence the term broom clean. You cannot sweep through old paint cans, or old stacks of lumber. You cannot leave stuff in the attic, basement or garage. All your junk has to be out. Clean, empty. If you want a smooth real estate closing have your home broom clean. I have had closings delayed until the home was cleaned out. I have had sellers have to escrow $2000 until the home was cleaned out that day.
The third Michigan real estate tip for a smooth closing is do the repairs you are supposed to. If you have agreed to put in a GFCI in the kitchen then do it. If you have had agreed to fix the stairs through a licensed contractor. Then you better have the work done prior to closing by a licensed contractor. The buyers are going to think you are taking advantage of them. It will be a delayed closing until the work gets done or you the seller forks over money to the buyer. It most likely is going to be a bigger amount than if you had the work done yourself.
The fourth tip and top tip for a smooth closing is to keep the house in the same condition it was in when you signed the purchase agreement. When the buyer signed the purchase agreement that is the way the house must look. A recent example was a large tree fell down at a home. The sellers were responsible to have it taken care of. If you damage a home when moving out then you must fix the walls and repaint. One of my seller's daughters spilled red Kool aid on the carpet on the day they moved out. My sellers were responsible for having the carpet cleaned. If you break the stair railing then it must be fixed. If you have a water leak then it must be fixed. If the dishwasher quits you must replace it. You cannot just leave it broken and hope they do not notice. I hope these tips on "How to have a smooth closing and not de-rail it" help you have a smooth real estate closing on your Michigan home.
Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit realtor
Helping over 85 buyers and sellers achieve their dream last year
Call me to help you on your next real estate move (248) 310-6239
