Before listing your home for sale, you should gather all of the documents you have related to your home, including your mortgage information; a copy of your sale agreement from when you purchased your property; a copy of your deed and the title report; your property tax information including your most recent tax bills; any survey reports, and your homeowners insurance information.
If your property is currently being rented to a tenant, you’ll also need a copy of the lease agreement. Proof of your tenant’s security deposit is also good to have on hand. Finally, if your home has a warranty that will pass to the buyer, roundup this paperwork as well. Likewise, gather any warranty information applicable to any appliances that you’re including with the sale. Here are the documents you’ll need:
– Mortgage loan information
– Final purchase and sale agreement
– Deed
– Title report
– Property tax information, including most recent tax statement
– Homeowners insurance information
– Any reports or documentation that relates to the property
– Lease agreement, if currently renting the property
Other Legal Documents You need to sell your home
If your home was built prior to 1978, you must include a copy of the lead-based paint disclosure brochure with the sales documents. Your buyers must sign a statement acknowledging their receipt of the disclosure.
To sell your home once you’ve secured a buyer, you’ll need to transfer the deed. To do this, you’ll have to enlist the services of an attorney. Your attorney will prepare the new deed and other necessary legal documents for closing. Typically, real estate closings are held in your attorney’s office, and your attorney will facilitate the signing of documents and provide a notary public to serve as a witness and notarize all legal documents. The deed formally transfers ownership of your property from you to your buyers.
What is a deed? A deed is a legal document that is filed with the county that documents your ownership of the property. When you sell your house, the buyer will sign the deed and it will be officially recorded by the county.
Your sale transaction may also include affidavits. These legal documents are sworn statements and may be created on behalf of either party, such as an affidavit on your behalf that states that you have not incurred any liens on your property.
If you need to continue living in your home for a period of time following the actual sale, you can use a rider to outline specific rights. Basically, a rider is an amendment to the standard sale agreement that can specify if the buyer will take possession prior to closing, if you’ll maintain possession for 30 days following closing, or similar arrangements.
It’s important that you submit all of the required paperwork to make sure the sale of your home goes smoothly. If you have questions about the process, a RealtyGo real estate agent can help.
