Getting a contract on your home is a big milestone. After weeks—or sometimes months—of preparing, showing, negotiating, and waiting, it can feel like the hard part is over.

But under contract is not the same as sold.

One issue we see from time to time is sellers becoming a little too relaxed once they have a ratified contract. The grass doesn’t get cut quite as often. The house gets emptied, but not cleaned. A few unwanted pieces of furniture get left behind. Repairs get handled quickly—or not exactly as agreed.

Our advice is simple:

Don’t let off the gas once you get a contract. Press on the gas even harder.

The time between contract and closing is when buyers are often paying closer attention than ever. They’re preparing to make a major financial commitment, and little things that may not have bothered them during a showing can suddenly become much bigger concerns.

Here are some things we encourage every seller to keep in mind.

 

Leave the Home Clean—and Empty

Once you have moved out, have the home thoroughly cleaned. Vacuum or sweep the floors, wipe down counters, clean bathrooms and appliances, and remove dust, dirt, trash, and debris.

Even if the buyers plan to renovate, they don’t want to walk into a dirty house on closing day.

And unless something has specifically been agreed upon, take everything with you.

That old sofa, leftover shelving, half-used cans of paint, miscellaneous tools, and unwanted furniture probably aren’t a “gift” to the new owner. If you don’t want it, there is a good chance they don’t either.

Buyers shouldn’t have to spend their first weekend hauling away things the seller didn’t want to deal with.

 

Keep the Yard Looking Good

The exterior should look just as good—preferably better—than it did when the buyers decided to purchase the property.

Continue cutting the grass, trimming where needed, picking up limbs and debris, and maintaining the property right through closing.

First impressions still matter, even after the contract is signed.

 

Complete Repairs Exactly as Agreed

If repairs are part of the contract, pay close attention to exactly what was agreed upon.

When the contract requires repairs by a licensed contractor, don’t substitute a DIY repair. Obtain documentation showing who performed the work, what was repaired or replaced, and the materials used when appropriate.

Depending on the agreement, the buyer may also have the inspector return to reinspect repaired items.

Whenever possible, we often prefer negotiating an acceptable credit rather than having the seller make repairs. A credit can eliminate disagreements over contractors, materials, and how the work was performed. The buyer can choose who does the work and how they want it done, while the seller avoids the headache of coordinating repairs.

However, credits aren’t always possible. Certain repairs—particularly with some types of financing—may have to be completed before closing.

 

Keep the Utilities On

Do not have utilities disconnected before closing.

Electricity, water, gas, and other necessary utilities may be needed for inspections, the buyer’s final walk-through, and sometimes lender requirements.

We generally recommend that buyers arrange for utilities to be placed in their name approximately five business days before closing. Sellers can contact the utility providers a couple of business days before closing to confirm arrangements have been made.

Ideally, service simply transfers from one party to the other without interruption.

Your homeowner’s insurance is different. We recommend waiting until after closing has occurred before notifying your insurance company to terminate coverage.

 

Tell Your Agent Immediately if Something Changes

A lot can happen between contract and closing.

A storm can damage the property. An appliance can stop working. A plumbing leak can occur. An HVAC system can fail. A tree can fall.

If something changes, tell us immediately.

Problems are almost always easier to solve when everyone knows about them early. Trying to hide or cover up an issue that will likely be discovered during the final walk-through can turn a manageable problem into a much bigger one.

Things happen. It’s how we deal with them that matters.

 

Replace Burned-Out Lightbulbs

This sounds minor, but it matters.

If a light doesn’t come on during the final walk-through, the buyer may wonder whether it’s simply a burned-out bulb—or an electrical problem.

Replace burned-out bulbs before closing. It’s an inexpensive and easy way to eliminate an unnecessary concern.

 

Leave Helpful Information Behind

A little thoughtfulness can go a long way.

Leave appliance manuals, warranties, instructions for systems, garage door remotes, keys, alarm information, or anything else that may be useful to the new owners.

You might even leave a simple list of nearby neighbors and their contact information when appropriate.

These things cost little or nothing, but they leave buyers with a positive impression of the home—and of the people who owned it before them.

 

Forward Your Mail

Submit your change of address and mail-forwarding request before moving.

Some mail will inevitably slip through, but the new owners shouldn’t have to deal with stacks of the previous owner’s mail for months after closing.

 

Understand That Last-Minute Delays Happen

Few things frustrate sellers more than hearing that closing may be delayed.

But remember that a delay isn’t necessarily the buyer’s fault.

Lenders, appraisers, inspectors, insurance companies, attorneys, settlement companies, title issues, and other circumstances can occasionally cause delays outside the buyer’s control.

Before becoming frustrated, find out why there is a delay and what is being done to resolve it. A little patience and cooperation can keep a minor delay from becoming a bigger problem.

 

Remember the Golden Rule

One of the easiest ways to decide how you should leave your home is to ask yourself:

How would I want the seller to leave a home I was buying?

  • Clean or dirty?
  • Empty or filled with somebody else’s unwanted belongings?
  • Freshly cut grass or an overgrown yard?
  • Repairs professionally completed or patched together?
  • Useful information left behind—or nothing at all?

The answer is usually pretty obvious.

Treat the buyer the way you would want to be treated.

 

Take Pride in the Finish

Selling a home is not finished when the contract is signed. It’s finished when the transaction closes and the keys are handed over.

Buyers are often on high alert during those final days. They’re looking more closely, not less closely, because they’re about to make the property their own.

We encourage our sellers to take pride in how they leave their property. Clean it. Maintain it. Complete what you agreed to complete. Communicate when something goes wrong. Leave the property the way you would hope someone would leave it for you.

Most transactions make it successfully to closing—but deals can and do run into trouble when sellers stop doing what they’re supposed to do.

So when you get that contract, celebrate.

Then keep your foot on the gas all the way to the closing table.