Last step!  Please consider leaving a glowing 5 Star Review for us on Zillow!  We don’t advertise our services and rely completely on referrals so let us know how we did and consider recommending The Ayers Team to your family, friends and neighbors. We would really appreciate it!  Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for reviewing us and we hope you’re enjoying your new home.

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Closing Day is almost here!  Whoo hoo!!

Your attorney will attend the closing on your behalf and make sure everything goes smoothly.  Afterwards, your attorney will email us both a copy of the Master Statement/Closing Statement showing the exact breakdown of the closing cost charges.  The attorney will arrange for the balance of your loan to be paid off with the proceeds from closing.  If you are receiving additional money back from closing once your loan has been paid off in full, the title company will either wire transfer those funds to you or you can stop by the attorney's office to pick up your closing check.  And that’s it! Congratulations on a successful sale.  Thank you for trusting us to sell your home!

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The final walk through usually occurs the night before closing or the morning of closing and is a chance for the buyer and the buyer’s Realtor to walk through the property and make sure it’s in the same condition as it was during the inspection.  Generally the walk through takes about 15 minutes and we can attend in case any problems come up. It’s best if you are completely moved out and the home has been thoroughly cleaned by the time the walk through occurs.

Here’s what the final walk through is:

• A second chance for the buyer to make sure all of the appliances are still working
• An opportunity to make sure you didn’t damage anything while moving out 
• A time to make sure the property is clean
• When we explain to the buyer what day the trash is picked up, where the parking is, etc.
• We will do the same thing for the house that you purchase next.
  
  We want to make sure you see both sides of the coin.  If we walk into the house you are buying and there is damage to the drywall the washer is missing, there are garbage bags multiple rooms and one cabinet still has dishes in it....Guess what? All that is yours at closing legally and there isn't much we can do  about it.  We want to ensure you are buying a house in the same condition as when you made the offer and that all the items that are to be left per the contract are in the home.

Here is what the final walk through IS NOT:

• It’s not a time to have the buyer’s parents, friends, etc. come look at the property or for contractors give them estimates, etc.  All of that can wait until the next day once they’ve officially bought the property.  
• It’s not a time for the buyer to begin moving boxes or other items in to the property. That has to wait until after closing.
• It’s not when the buyer receives the keys.  Instead, at the end of the walk through we will give the buyer’s Realtor the keys and garage door opener and the buyer’s Realtor will give those items to the buyer at the end of closing.

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the final walk through.  We’re almost there!

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A few days before the closing date, the buyer should get the "Clear to Close" from his or her mortgage lender.  This means the buyer’s mortgage has been approved and the attorneys can schedule the closing date.

Once a closing date, time and location have been scheduled by the attorneys, the buyer’s Realtor will schedule the final walk through of the property.  This usually takes place the day before closing and is a chance to make sure the property is still in the same condition it was  during the inspection and that we have fixed any agreed upon repairs.  In addition, in Illinois, all attached items such as shelving, light fixtures, curtain rods, etc. are required to stay and transfer with the property so the buyer checks that those items are still there as well.  Once the closing has been scheduled, you should reach out to your attorney and arrange a time to pre-sign the documents.

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We HATE cleaning! While your home is only required to be left in broom clean condition, it’s common courtesy to either clean the home yourself AFTER you’ve moved all of your stuff out or have a cleaning company come and clean it.  This needs to be done after your stuff is all out, but before closing occurs. Ideally, it’s best if you’re moved out AND the cleaning occurs before the walk through.  The walk through usually occurs the night before closing or the morning of closing.

If you are looking for a cleaning company, let us know and we can recommend someone!

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Be sure to let your home owner’s insurance company know that you’re moving and either cancel the service or transfer it to your new home.  This transfer should take place the day of closing.

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This is one of those annoying tasks that no one thinks about doing ahead of time, but is crucial, as you don’t want to forget and end up paying the buyer’s electricity bill for the first month!

Call NOW let the utility companies know that you’re moving. Ask to have all utilities taken out of your name the day of closing.   Generally, you will call Com Ed for the electricity and NICOR Gas for gas service.  You’ll also want to call your TV and internet provider as well.   If you’re selling a single family house you’ll need to arrange for the water bill to be taken out of your name. Have all of the utilities stop on the day of closing. If you have a security system, schedule it to be shut off the day before closing.

If you are moving to a new home, TRANSFER the utilities to your new home instead of canceling them.

CLICK HERE>> View ALL utility contact info your specific city

Just enter your City Name at the link above and our site does the rest!

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Now that the earnest money check has been dropped off, attorney review and the inspection period are done, and the appraisal has been sorted out, it’s safe to hire movers and start packing  Call now to get moving estimates and secure a mover as they often get booked up weeks in advance.  Also, if you’re moving out of a condo building check with the HOA President or Property Management Company to see if you need to pay any move out fees, reserve an elevator, or if there are move in restrictions, etc. Be sure to tell the moving company what floor you’re on if you live in a condo building and whether your building has stairs vs an elevator so they block off enough time for your move.  

Remember that you have to be out of your place by the time closing begins and we won’t know until a few days before closing what time it is scheduled for that day. 

Therefore, our recommendation is to move out of your place the day before closing to be safe.

If you can’t do that then have your movers come very early the day of closing such as 6am so you can be out by the time closing occurs. 

Unfortunately, we can’t reserve a specific time for closing in advance although we can request AM or PM. AM usually starts around 9am and PM usually starts sometime between 1 – 3pm.  Usually we don’t know the exact time/location of closing until a few days before closing.

Recommended Movers

See our list of Recommended Movers here.

Whichever mover you end up using, we highly recommend asking them to bring wardrobe boxes with them for all of your hanging clothes. That way you don’t have to take everything off the hangers and pack the items up. Instead, the movers will simply grab everything in your closets that is hanging, put them on the rods in the boxes and then when you get to your new home you can just grab the hangers and hang the items back up. Saves a ton of time.

Moving Supplies

Start gathering boxes and packing supplies.  Often you can find free boxes on Craigs List.  Otherwise, Uhaul, Uline, and Usedcardboardboxes are all great places to get moving supplies online. If you want to be more green/earth friendly with your move check out the Chicago Green Box at www.thechicagogreenbox.com

Pets

Moving can be incredibly stressful on pets so consider having them stay with a friend or in daycare for a few days while you move and get settled into your new place. 

Items to Leave

Usually anything attached to the walls such as shelving, curtain rods, curtains and curtain rods need to stay.  Everything else needs to go with you. If you aren’t sure, ask us as taking the wrong items can cause problems at the walk through.

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Now that the A/I period has ended, it’s safe to put the closing date on your calendar.  Usually the seller does NOT attend closing; rather your attorney will have you pre-sign all of the paperwork.  

Therefore, plan to contact your attorney about a week before closing to set up a time to pre-sign the closing documents.

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