What Happens After You Sign a Denver Real Estate Contract?

What Happens After You Sign a Denver Real Estate Contract?

Buying a new home isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. When you find the Denver real estate of your dreams and place an offer that is accepted, don’t assume the marathon is over -- there are many more miles you must travel before closing.

Here are four steps to take after the contract is signed:

1. Be prepared for your earnest money or escrow deposit to be cashed. This money can be anywhere from $1,000 to three percent of the price of the home.
2. Go over disclosures with a fine-tooth comb. Your agent will help you identify any red flags. Then you want to familiarize yourself with the home’s history, zoning district and past building permits. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
3. Negotiate with your bank. It’s time to lock in an interest rate with your lender. You might have gotten pre-approved beforehand, but now you actually need the loan.
4. Schedule a property inspection. Attend the inspection, and come prepared with a list of questions for your home inspector. The point of this appointment is not just to highlight major issues, but also to familiarize yourself with the short and long-term maintenance of your new home.

Don’t get derailed by unexpected costs and time-consuming tasks that come after you sign a contract. You’ll want to be mentally and financially prepared so that you can close smoothly and move into your new Denver metro area home quickly.

If you have a dream of home ownership, begin your search at YourDenverHouse.com. I specialize in helping Denver metro area buyers and listing Denver real estate for sellers. You can search all Denver MLS listings or contact me directly and I will assist you. If you’d like more information about what happens before closing, please call me at 303-525-8721 or email me at Huffman@ccpre.com .

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