Closing Do's and Don'ts (Or: Please Don't Buy the Couch Yet)
You're under contract. You're excited. You're already picturing the living room.
Please wait on the furniture.
Your lender will re-verify your finances before closing, and a large purchase, a new credit inquiry, or an unexplained deposit can change your debt-to-income ratio enough to delay — or kill — the loan. It happens, and it's heartbreaking, and it's completely avoidable.
Do this
Ask questions. Every time. There is no dumb question in a transaction this size.
Return requested documents promptly. Delays here cause most closing delays.
Keep your file current with recent pay stubs and bank statements.
Keep making every payment on time — credit cards, loans, rent, existing mortgage.
Maintain a paper trail on everything connected to your application.
Give your agent your pre-approval letter and your lender's contact info.
Ask whether the property is in a flood zone. You may need flood insurance as a condition of the loan — and out here, that's a real question, especially near water.
Get a fully executed copy of your contract, signed by all parties.
Copy your earnest money check and confirm it cleared.
Arrange homeowners insurance effective on your closing date.
Not that
Don't apply for new credit. No cards, no auto loans, no financing the furniture. Not even a store card for the discount.
Don't make large undocumented deposits or withdrawals. Underwriters need to source every unusual deposit. If family is gifting you money, tell your lender first — there's a proper way to document it.
Don't change jobs without telling your lender. Even a promotion can complicate things if the structure changes.
Don't write checks you can't cover.
Don't take cash advances on credit cards.
Don't withhold payments on accounts to be paid off at closing without asking first.
Don't offer above your pre-approved amount without talking to your lender.
Don't include the seller's personal property in the purchase contract — that belongs in a separate agreement.
A few days before closing
Property taxes are approximate and vary by source — confirm with the municipality. Taxes vary meaningfully across Licking County districts.
Homeowners insurance — your lender needs proof in advance, not on closing day.
Final walkthrough — make sure it happens, and if you can, make sure the utilities are still on so you can verify everything works.
The general principle
Between accepted offer and closing, keep your financial life boring. Change nothing. Buy nothing large. Move no money around without explaining it.
It's usually 30 to 45 days. The couch will still be there.
