Purchasing a new home is an exciting home in anybody’s life. It can also be scary and confusing. There is so much going on at once, and with so many details to remember, it can be a little overwhelming.

Closing on a house means meeting with the seller, both of your real estate agents, and an escrow agent. Buckle up, because there will be stacks of paperwork to sign. Make sure that you, and anyone else who is signing the mortgage with you have identification. Make sure that all of your ducks are in a row. Don’t try to take out any new loans, as this will change your credit score and affect your closing costs; regardless of what was previously agreed on.

Make sure that you’ve already had the home inspected. This is to ensure that there are no hidden defects that the seller might have neglected to mention. You’ll also need to get an appraisal prior to closing. The appraiser is the person that makes sure that you are getting a fair price for your new home. Last but not least, the final thing you need to do before closing is perform a walk through. Your real estate agent will schedule this the day before you close. The seller should have moved everything out of the house by this point. Check cabinets, doors, light fixtures, appliances, and anything else to make sure everything is up to par before you make the official deal.

Signing all the paperwork is what makes the property officially yours! Make sure that all things are officially in order before your big day. You don’t want any delays when opening this door to the next stage in your life, and its only a matter of time before you have the keys to unlock it.