Now what? How to prepare for closing day

You bought a home! Congratulations! Your offer was accepted, the home inspection went well and all the conditions have been met…so what's next on your to-do list? Other than packing of course, there are a number of steps you'll need to take in preparation of the big day:

The first is to get your lawyer involved. Your real estate professional will fax the Agreement of Purchase and Sale to your lawyer, who will then complete a variety of tasks on your behalf - checking title, preparing the land transfer, etc.

You will need to provide all necessary documents to your mortgage lender.

Arrange for homeowner's insurance to begin the day of closing. You can often get a discount for "bundling" so check rates with your auto and/or life insurance provide first.

If you are a renter, give ample notice to your landlord.

Call the local utility companies to set up hydro, water, gas, cable, telephone etc.

Inform all necessary parties of your upcoming change of address – credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, the Ministry of Transportation, Canada Revenue Agency, insurance company, employer, etc. You can also arrange through the post office for all of your mail to be redirected to your new address for a specified period of time.

Start saving. As tempting as it is to go out and buy furniture, décor items and more for your new house, closing day will bring with it some hefty costs, including legal fees, hook-up charges, moving costs, and more.

Arrange for a final walk-through at your new address. Your real estate professional will accompany you as you tour the home for one last time before moving day. Bring a tape measure to check room sizes!

A day or two before closing, you will meet with your lawyer to sign all necessary documents.

Finally, when the big day arrives, you lawyer will contact you when you can pick up the keys to your new home!