Dec. 27, 2006 - Closing and Keys

Closing and keys should be simple if you follow these basic steps.

1) Closing generally happens in the late afternoon or evening, so sellers SHOULD take off from work and make sure the home is empty and clean by noon or so.  Buyers should NOT take off from work and plan to move in the day after closing or the weekend following closing, if possible.

2) You sign your papers in advance of closing, so don't think the house is yours when you stand up from the table...that's East Coast, not West Coast stuff.  West Coast is "escrow" where you sign days in advance of the actually transfer of property.

3) The key to the house is in that little blue box.  If the seller's agent leaves the box on, your agent can get you in and the owner should have left all remaining keys and garage door openers, etc inside in a "pre-designated" spot.  Easy...except when the agent takes the box off too soon...which is all too often.  You agent can hand you the keys anytime after the call from escrow that says "property has recorded" UNLESS possession on the first page of your contract does not say "ON CLOSING".