When Can I Move In?

When Can I Move In?
05-27-08

It can be an exciting time to move into a new home. The new space to explore and decorate is like getting a breath of fresh air. So many ideas come to mind when looking at the empty space. Many new home owners are anxious to have the keys right away. They can not wait to get started cleaning and unpacking. Painting and putting up curtains seems like the best thing in the world. Rearranging furniture in the new home all of a sudden is fun.

When the buyer makes an offer on a property and it gets accepted, the planning begins. People have actually had a calendar marked as a countdown to the big "M". Moving Day. The question always comes up, "When can I move in?". The big day actually depends on your contract with the seller.

Most of the time the buyer will be handed the keys to the new home on the day of closing. This is when the property actually changes hands. The seller has signed his rights away and the buyer has resumed them. Sometimes things can happen a little differently.

The seller may ask for a few extra days to make sure everything they want is out of the house. They may need some extra time to locate a property or even close on the new one they are buying. When a seller is having a home built, delays can occur which can stop the sellers moving on an expected date. There may have to be concessions made to accommodate the sellers.

It is possible the seller will agree to have the buyer move in prior to the closing. This generally can be done if the house is vacant and it is a strong buyer. If the buyer had difficulty obtaining the loan, or asked for certain concessions, the seller may not feel comfortable allowing the buyer to move in until the closing has been finalized. This is just added protection against anything which could go wrong. Either way the seller usually has a week to week lease with the buyer to allow occupancy prior to closing.

You will find some real estate agencies have rental agreements on file which can be signed by the seller and buyer for either one to live in the home during the time prior to closing or shortly thereafter. These forms are used to protect each party so there is no question about what is happening. The seller may pay rent to the buyer in lieu of letting them stay longer. The buyer may also be required to pay if he or she moves in prior to closing. The agreements usually contain a clause concerning the utility usage during the times of occupancy.

In all reality, very few times any more do the sellers need to stay in the home after closing. It is only on rare occasions the buyer would need to move in before closing. So the real answer to when you can move in is actually entirely up to the people involved in the sale.

Mark E. Moebius
Miljonair Homes
Custom home builder St. Louis
3451 St. Albans Rd.
St. Albans, MO 63073
636.300.9000