Real Estate Closing Checklist

True Story: 

I’m a pilot. Pilots have checklists and follow them religiously. Before anything else, a flight plan is established and weather is checked. Next they take stock of themselves… The pilot in command. They check themselves for emotional distress, sleep deprivation prescription drugs, illness etc, to ensure they are fit to fly today.  As they approach the aircraft they run through a pre-flight checklist for the physical airworthiness as seen from the outside. Once inside and the engine is started, the pilot checks things like fuel and oil gauges, aircraft controls, communication and navigation devices/instruments, lights and engine operation.  Only then can the pilot even begin to think about taking off. 

Nearing his/her destination, the pilot pulls out the checklist again. As they begin their descent they need to check their speed, landing gear, announce intentions, enter the traffic pattern according to the airports rules, check aircraft for fuel, flaps, speed, heading, wind direction and velocity, propeller configuration, and last but not least… Passenger safety for landing. Phew. Ok… Now with brain space cleared again, land the plane.

Why?  Because we prefer to leave nothing to chance!  Safety of the plane, crew, passengers and ground folks are imperative. On top of that, flying is fun and the only way to keep it that way is to make sure that we can fly again another day. 🙂

As with other things in our lives, complications arise and distractions occur during real estate transactions. Having a real estate closing checklist in place ensures that I don’t miss things and (heaven forbid) if something happens and I become suddenly unavailable, my replacement knows where we are at and can pick up the reins without undue risk to the real estate buyer or seller.

 What can I say? I’m a checklist girl.  I use them. Create them.  Love them.  Pass them along.