Home Buyer's Checklist
Home Buyer's Checklist — From Start to Keys in Hand
Buying a home is exciting — and overwhelming. Here's a simple roadmap to keep you on track.
Before You Look
- Check your credit score
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage (not just pre-qualified)
- Make a wish list — must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
- Know your budget, including taxes, insurance, and utilities
The Search
- Tour homes in person (photos can hide a lot)
- Take notes and take photos at each showing
- Think about resale value — even if this is your "forever home"
- Sleep on big decisions
Making an Offer
- Review Comparable sales with your realtor
- Decide on offer price and contingencies
- Submit offer in writing
- Negotiate if needed
Under Contract
- Schedule home inspection
- Review the inspection report carefully
- Negotiate repairs or credits
- Finalize mortgage
- Order appraisal
- Secure homeowners’ insurance
Closing
- Do final walk-through
- Review closing disclosure (compare to your loan estimate)
- Bring certified funds or arrange a wire transfer
- Sign documents (lots of them)
- Get the keys
Pro tip: Save this checklist and check off each step. I'll keep you on track—but this helps you feel in control too.
Home Seller's Timeline
Home Seller's Timeline — 8 Weeks to Closing
Selling a house doesn't have to be chaos. Here's what happens when—so you know what to expect.
8 Weeks Before Listing
- Interview and choose your realtor
- Get a comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Decide on list price
- Make necessary repairs
- Declutter and depersonalize
6 Weeks Before Listing
- Consider staging or professional photos
- Gather important documents (tax records, utility bills, HOA info)
- Plan where you'll go during showings
4 Weeks Before Listing — GO LIVE
- Sign listing agreement
- Photos and virtual tour go up
- Sign goes in the yard
- Listing goes live on MLS
Weeks 1–2 on Market
- Showings begin
- Receive and review offers
- Negotiate and accept an offer
- Sign purchase agreement
Weeks 3–4 — Under Contract
- Buyer schedules home inspection
- Review inspection requests
- Negotiate repairs or credits
- Buyer arranges appraisal and financing
Weeks 5–6 — Final Steps
- Buyer's lender orders title search
- Resolve any title issues
- Schedule closing date
- Start packing (yes, now)
Week 7 — Closing Week
- Do your own final walk-through (empty house)
- Confirm funds are ready (for payoff or proceeds)
- Sign closing documents
Week 8 — Closing Day
- Hand over keys
- Sign final papers
- Get your proceeds
- Celebrate — you did it
Pro tip: Every sale is different. This is a typical timeline — I'll walk you through your actual dates as we go.