Paper Less: Getting on Top of Home Buying/Selling Documentation

by Amber Ramsey | LearnItForLife

October 20th, 2022

Buying or selling a home can entail large amounts of bureaucracy, legality, and headaches to boot. Paperwork adds up, and so, whether you’re reviewing, signing, or simply trying to organize documents, it pays to stay organized. Here are some tips from Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors to help you keep on top of the fine print and ensure a smooth transition.

Documents You Need

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a property, there is a colossal amount of paperwork that needs to be prepared, signed, and authorized before you can make a listing or go through with an offer. This includes (but is not limited to) proof of identity, information about the deed, maintenance records, and more. Knowing what you need is key to organization. Here are a few items from high on the priority list.

• Shared freehold documentation:

  If your home retains a share of the freehold, you may need to provide documentation pertaining to its structure. The same is true if your home is a leasehold - you will be required to produce a copy of the lease and fill in a seller’s information form.



• Property title deeds:

  Amongst the most essential documents when selling a property are the title deeds that prove you own it. These are likely kept by the solicitor you used when you first purchased the home/applied for a mortgage. If the property has been in possession since before 1990 (when the law first came into effect) you may need to contact your mortgage provider directly instead.



• Mortgage offer:

  A copy of your mortgage offer and evidence of other funds will be required to purchase the property. This will prove that you are in the correct financial position to carry through with the deal.

The above are just a few of the many documents you will likely need when selling a property. See more examples here.

Organizing

Securing the right documents is one thing; organizing them is another nuisance entirely. It’s often worth converting your paperwork into a digital format and sending these to a handheld device, like an iPad, or even downloading a scanning app on your device. After that, you can quickly merge PDF files online, thereby making it/them easier to locate, navigate and sign.

Property transitions are rarely straightforward. However, if you take advantage of the many resources available to you, you can keep one step ahead of the paperwork, which will greatly reduce your stress and workload.