Was it a full moon or something last week?  It seemed like the easiest of deals were turned into nightmare closings.  Have you ever had a day where you felt like taking your head and banging it against the wall and getting the same result as a day’s worth of work? That pretty much sums up my recent closings.  Why does this happen and how can you avoid it?

1. If it’s a foreclosure and owned by a bank, set extremely low expectations for closing.  Even if you are paying cash and it should be the easiest deal in the world to close, plan on it being delayed and not going smoothly.  Most likely the latter will happen.  Banks are inundated with properties they now own and you are in a stack of papers on an even larger stack of papers.  Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is the easiest way to save yourself some frustration.
2. Get your bank wires prepared ahead of time.  You can wire in your money days in advance. Even if you don’t have the exact amount you can send in an overestimated amount.  When the deal closes, the title company will refund your overage.  This makes is easier than scrambling to get to the bank on the day of closing and waiting for the exact final figure you own.
3. Try to be flexible. The title company that the bank chooses to close your loan will most likely be difficult to deal with.  They typically have so many files that not much work will be done on yours until a few days before closing.  That can create a very stressful situation for the buyer.  Making a big purchase like a house and not knowing any of the details (cash to close, when to close, etc…) until last the last second causes high stress.
4. That being said, some banks are now letting the buyer pick the closing/title company.  This means you can have a local company do the closing that you know and trust.  The only difference here is you will most likely be stuck with the title insurance bill verses the bank.  However, all your headaches should go away knowing  you are dealing with a local company vs. a title company in a different city.
5. Hire an attorney to represent your side.  It’s very important that you have clear title, especially on foreclosures.  If the deal starts to go in the wrong direction, it’s best to have an attorney who can go to battle for you against the bank’s title company.  It takes some of the stress off you to know that your interests are being protected and looked after.

With a little planning ahead – and managing your expectations for your closings! –  I hope you’ll be surprised and it will go smoothly for you!

Gabe Mellein was voted a Top Real Estate Agent – Exceptional in Service and Overall Satisfaction by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2012 and 2013.  He is the broker of Gulf Pointe Properties, Inc and has over 9 years experience in the SW Florida Real Estate Market.  He is a member of The Naples Area Board of Realtors, Bonita Springs – Estero Association of Realtors, Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach, The Florida Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, and is nationally certified in Feng Shui for Real Estate.  Need real estate help?  Please contact Gabe at:  239.825.2234, Gabe@GulfPointeProperties.com  or www.GulfPointeProperties.com