How to Complete Paperwork for Selling a House

Selling a house is an exciting event, but does include the necessity of completing all the paperwork to finish the sale.  While there are some difference in forms used from one jurisdiction to another, the process of assembling the right documents, completing them and filing the papers with the right party applies in any situation.

1. Identify the documents that must be completed in order for the sale to be legal.  If you are using a realtor or a real estate broker, that professional will be aware of the forms required in your area.  For owners who are selling properties on their own, a visit to the local courthouse will provide information on the forms required and how to go about obtaining blank copies.  


2. Read all the instructions that come with each of the forms.  Many jurisdictions include instruction books that help sellers walk through the entire process, including the order in which to fill out the forms.  It is not unusual for the instructions to include examples, which further aids first time sellers in understanding what type of information should be entered into each field. 


3. Check over the forms before submitting them.  Make sure that no required field is left blank, and that the responses are correct and complete.  If you are not sure about some detail on the forms, obtain the services of a local realtor office or make use of the hotline that some city and country recorders provide.  The idea is to make sure the paperwork is complete and accurate the first time around, minimizing the potential for delays. 


4. Follow up on the submission.  Don’t assume that the paperwork was processed and a new deed issued to the new owners.  After a couple of weeks, check in with the recorder’s office to determine if the task is complete or if it is still in process.  Continue to check in until you know the property is out of your name and now in the name of the new owners.  At that point, also check with the tax assessor’s office to make sure the ownership has also been updated, preventing you from receiving any notices about property taxes in the future.