You have reached Stage Five : Post Real Estate Closing… Congratulations!
In case you have come across this post and have no idea what I’m talking about, check out:
Stage One: Buying Real Estate In Colorado Or Thinking About It
Stage Two: Buy Colorado Real Estate After Seeing Houses With Agent
Stage Three: Colorado Real Estate Under Contract
Stage Four: Closing Colorado Real Estate
As you leave the title company, on your post real estate closing high, you have keys in hand and probably the daunting task of unpacking and moving in, ahead of you. The closing itself was a bit anti-climactic wasn’t it? It was more about formalizing all the hard work of the last month… and getting one of those yummy title company cookies in your belly!
If you are like many of my Buyers, today is going to be a long one. From closing, you could be going back to work or back to your existing residence to finish packing and cleaning. Other Buyers were also Sellers today (or yesterday) and they arrived by moving truck this morning, so are now on a deadline to get the truck unpacked and returned to the rental company.
For some, post real estate closing is simply the beginning of another stage that comes before moving… As new owners of a property that “needs work”, they are all about coordinating contractors now. Moving will happen when the remodel is complete, the paint is dry and the carpet has been replaced. Maybe you need to hang on to the lockbox for now? (Never hurts to ask your Realtor for help!)
Are you wondering how a new buyer already has contractors lined up post real estate closing, with bids that fit a budget (that included the price of the house) and designs/colors picked out? Easy! During the “under contract” period, I will work with my Buyer to get access for all their contractors, often meeting the contractors at the house if the Buyer can’t get away from work. Sellers are usually very obliging and may feel very reassured to see the Buyer of their home investing time and effort into it. They like watching a Buyer become more attached to the house and it brings a sense of security that the deal is going to go through.
As the Realtor, it’s very important to me that my clients understand my service shouldn’t and won’t end post real estate closing. It is absolutely fine when you call me with questions about the house and need me to contact the Seller again. I like to know if one of the contractors we used for inspection items has done a crappy or phenomenal job. Mostly, I just like hearing from you. Many of my close friends started out as clients and I enjoy being invited for dinner, getting the tour of improvements they have made since buying, receiving family pictures at Christmas and announcements of births. I go to a wedding a year and love it!
Some of my favorite real estate memories are of the post closing interactions.
One afternoon I called a family who closed that morning and asked them if they could do with a dinner delivery and break from unpacking. I thought I was up for “Realtor of the Year” by the looks on their hungry, tired faces when I arrived with hot pizza, cold drinks and tub of Ben and Jerry’s.
This is the best story though;
Sweet couple, first time home buyers start looking at homes with me. One of the first homes we look at, turns out to be the one they purchase. It has been a very straight forward deal from start to finish. They are super easy to work with and are really excited to be moving out of the parents basement, which has been their temporary home for a few months. Shortly after moving in, they informed me that the lawn service was still doing the mowing and the Sellers must have forgotten to stop it. See what I mean about sweet? It was a large corner lot. How many people would be tempted to keep letting someone else mow their lawn?!
A couple of months go by and I get this email…
“So I think this is the right house for us…we conceived the weekend
we moved in and are expecting our new addition in January! Now I wish
I still had that lawn service… 🙂 “
A new home is a new the beginning of a new phase in most people’s lives, whether that is moving up or downsizing, changing towns and maybe employers too. It’s my job to take some of the stress out of such a big change and to give you all the information you need to feel good about your decisions.
It’s my job and pleasure to stay in contact, to be the one you call when you need a referral for another service provider or advice on which improvements will be the most well received and have the best return on investment, when you sell.
It’s simply my pleasure to hear from you and keep up with all the other changes in your life.
Yes, I will be staying in touch too. 🙂