You will be required to payoff any and all existing liens on the property you are selling. You will need to notify Northwestern Title, Inc. of the names and telephone numbers of all current mortgage holders and your loan numbers. It is necessary to supply this information to us as soon as possible since it may take five to seven working days to obtain the payoff(s).
Pest Inspection Report
Under your real estate sales contract, it may be your responsibility to have a pest inspector inspect the property you are selling and provide you with a pest inspection report. Typically, your realtor will assist you with obtaining this report and providing us with the necessary information. If wood destroying insects are detected and/or any damage is found due to wood destroying insects, you may be required to have the property treated and/or repair the damage and the termite company will then need to reissue an updated report. The pest inspection report needs to be faxed to Northwestern Title, Inc. to obtain approval from the lender that the report is acceptable. Along with the report, you will need to fax a copy of the invoice in order for Northwestern Title, Inc. to prepare the final closing figures.
Well and Septic Inspection Report
If your property is not connected to a main water and/or sewer line, your real estate sales contract may require you to provide a report from the county health department stating that the well and septic system are sufficient and working properly.
Cashier's Check
If you are required to bring funds to the closing, a cashier's check will be required for the full amount of the final figure payable to Northwestern Title, Inc.
Identification
At closing, you will be asked for a copy of your driver's license, or some other form of identification that discloses your picture and signature.
Contractual Obligations
The real estate sales contract should contain all agreements between the Seller and Buyer and must be signed and any changes initialed by both parties. Northwestern Title, Inc. will prepare and conduct your closing only according to the terms agreed upon in your contract. If you have any questions about any item in your contract, please discuss this with your real estate agent or attorney. If possible, it is always best to get any issues resolved before getting to the closing.
Miscellaneous
If you or anyone that is part of your transaction will not be available to attend the closing, you must notify Northwestern Title, Inc. at least 3 days prior to closing. The absent person will be required to execute a "Limited Power of Attorney" to appoint someone to sign on their behalf in order to allow the closing to continue without that person being present.
If you or anyone that is a part of your transaction is in the process of bankruptcy, divorce or any other court proceedings, you must notify Northwestern Title, Inc. as soon as possible. If any of the property owners are deceased, a Will and/or a death certificate may be required. If there is not a Will, an Affidavit of Heirship may be required to attest that the named sellers are the only heirs of the deceased. If any of the property owners are minors, court approval will need to be obtained. These issues could take time to resolve and need to be handled prior to closing.
If you are the sole owner of the property you are selling, but you are married, your spouse will be required to sign the warranty deed only to convey any rights they may have in the property. That spouse will also need to provide a copy of their driver's license, or some other form of identification that discloses their picture and signature.
