Home Closing Tips and RemindersPlease don't foget about the following home closing tips and reminders. 1) Utilities When you purchase a home without the assistance of a realtor, it is very important that the changeover of utilities is coordinated with the seller. Although the seller may ask the utility company to no longer bill them after a certain date, you, as the new owner of the property, have to ask the utility company to place the future bills in your name. If a realtor has been helping you with your home purchase, check with him/her to ensure that this gets done timely. Unlike other utilities, water services are usually billed directly to the property owner. Final water bills/readings are usually settled at closing, and the new owner may not have to do anything about this. Some municipalities, however, will issue a bill only to the current resident. In this situation, give the bill to the title company that holds the water escrow, and they will prorate and disperse the funds appropriately. As always, it's a good idea to contact the water company to ensure this transition goes smoothly. 3) Mail Service You should notify the post office, and all others that you receive mail from, that your address has changed. To help you, the post office will give you a free change of address kit. If you prefer, you can complete your change of address request online at the post office website by clicking here. 4) Door Locks It is highly recommended that you, as the new owner of your home, change the locks on all of your outside doors. It may be less costly and time-consuming to have your local locksmith do this for you, rather than purchase all new lock sets yourself. Another option, to save even more money, is to bring the locks to your local locksmith to have the tumblers changed and rekeyed, rather than buying all new locks. 5) Driver's License/State ID Card The address on your driver's license or state ID card must be changed within a certain time frame, according to the state you live in. To do this, please visit the Secretary of State or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Some states may even allow you to complete this process online. Also, if you are registered voter, your voter registration must be updated with your change of address as well. 6) Keys Upon leaving the property, the seller should give the keys to the real estate agent or the title company. At the time of closing, the keys should be turned over to you. If you have any questions about the above home closing tips, please do not hesitate to contact one of our Mortgage Professionals at Cronin Financial Services, LLC.
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