If you want to sell your house in Allentown, PA, you need to be aware of the paperwork needed when preparing your home for buyers. Right from the get-go, you’ll want to start organizing your documents. This way, the process will move along in a smooth manner – avoiding legal troubles along the way.

There are a variety of documents required when you complete any legal transaction, such as selling your house. In Allentown, PA, you will need the following six papers before listing your property:

Contract

Like for any major transaction, a binding contract is signed to ensure each party’s rights. Make sure that both parties have signed the documents. A legally enforceable contract gives you both the ability to resolve disputes after closing. Do not forget to add the closing date, price, and occupancy date for your Allentown, PA house in this document. As a note for buyers outside of the state, you’ll need to know that a single Commercial Code applies to transactions that span multiple states.

Disclose! Disclose! Disclose!

“Honesty is the best policy” surely applies here, especially when selling your home to a prospective buyer. Any known problems or faults with the property must be outlined in a property disclosure. If you don’t provide this information, you may face legal difficulties and additional expenses when selling your home.

Title

After selling your house in Allentown, PA, you must change the deed to reflect the new owner’s name. The deed is a legal document that designates ownership of property and must be given to the buyer for their records.

Occupancy Rider

If the timeline for your sale is longer than expected, you will want to have a document in place that outlines who takes responsibility for any rent, utilities, or other added costs like repairs. This is because insurance policies won’t usually cover this period of time. If you need to stay in the house after the closing date, you will need a post-occupancy agreement written up.

On the other hand, if the buyer needs to be in place before the sale of your house, this will require a pre-occupancy agreement. Remember to have all your paperwork in place for any eventuality as you wait for a potential buyer to purchase your property.

Third-Party Financing Clause

As you are in the process of selling your property, you should think about taking out a mortgage on your home as another source of funding for your buyer in Allentown, PA. If so, ensure the third-party financing clause or financing addendum is included in your contract. You will still be secure if your buyer’s current mortgage application is denied.

Promise

A signed and notarized promissory note coming from the buyer is a legal document that clearly notes the rights and responsibilities of the involved parties. This is crucial for buyers who buy via non-traditional methods, since it allows them to utilize the seller as a financier – with the property serving as security for the loan.

The amount of money to be paid and when it should be paid must all be specified in the document in detail. As you are engaged in a financial transaction, your buyer has the right to any available information about your home and the transaction that will take place.

Settlement Statement

By HUD’s latest standards, every specific detail of the transaction must be presented in a closing or settlement statement. At least one day before the closing, the buyer is allowed to review this statement, so they understand all of the fees and financing interest rates for the loan term. Give them time to look over the details of the documents presented.

Following these rules strictly will help keep you out of legal trouble down the road. If the buyer asks for proof of identity at closing, be ready to present it. Documents should be reviewed with a fine-toothed comb before being given to the buyer. A broker should check all the information and let you know if anything is missing or inaccurate.

If you’re ready to finalize the sale with your buyer, put together these six crucial documents when selling your house in Allentown, PA. You can reach us by calling Skilled Property Finders, LLC at (570) 634-0000 or dropping us a message – we’re available 24/7!