What to Know First
Signing Day
(Closing)
(Closing)
When you sit down to sign, you will complete the deed and all of your closing documents. It is a big moment. But it helps to know what happens next, because signing is not quite the finish line.
Important: Signing does not mean the sale is final yet. It is a major step, but a few things still happen behind the scenes before ownership officially transfers and you get paid.
Behind the Scenes
What Happens
After You Sign
After You Sign
Once you have signed, a short sequence plays out in the background. Here is what is happening while you wait:
1
The buyer's funds reach the title company
The buyer's lender wires the loan proceeds, or the buyer sends their funds if paying cash, to fund the purchase.
2
The title company balances the transaction
Every debit and credit is reconciled so each dollar is accounted for, including your loan payoff and your net proceeds.
3
The full package goes to the county recorder
The deed and all required documents are submitted to the county for official recording.
4
The deed is officially recorded
This is the moment ownership transfers to the buyer. The sale is now final.
This is when you get paid and hand over keysPossession
Keys &
Possession
Possession
Possession follows the terms in your contract. Here is what that means for you as the seller:
If Your Contract States "Possession Upon Recording"
You release the keys only after the deed has been recorded, not the moment you finish signing. Recording is the official transfer of ownership, and that is the trigger to hand over keys. Plan to be fully moved out before then.
The title company will confirm the moment recording is done. That is your green light to release keys, and it is also when your proceeds are released to you.
What to Expect
Timing &
Patience
Patience
Recording timelines in Utah County depend largely on when signing happens. Here is a rough guide, and remember this is also when your proceeds get disbursed:
Morning Signing
Earlier signings have the best chance of recording the same day. Not guaranteed, but very possible.
Afternoon Signing
If signing happens later in the day, recording will typically not happen until the following business day.
Friday Signing
If you sign Friday afternoon and it does not record the same day, recording will happen Monday morning.
The county records documents in the order they arrive, and there is no way to rush it (as much as we all wish there was). This last stretch takes a little patience, but you are right at the end.
Be Prepared
Before You Head
to Closing
to Closing
A few things to have ready before your signing appointment so closing day goes smoothly:
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID
Driver's license or passport, required to sign the deed and closing documents
Confirm your net proceeds and how you will be paid
Ask the title company: wire or check. If wired, verify the account details by phone, never from email alone
Have the home fully vacated and cleaned for the buyer's walkthrough
The buyer walks the home before closing. Empty, clean, and as agreed is what keeps the deal smooth
Time your utility cancellation to the possession date
Cancel or transfer power, water, and gas for the day you hand over keys, not before, so the home stays functional for the walkthrough
Gather everything the buyer will need at handoff
All keys, garage remotes, mailbox keys, gate and alarm codes, plus any manuals and warranties
"You carried this the whole way yourself, and that is genuinely no small thing. If any part of this last stretch gets confusing, I am one text away, no strings. Congratulations. You earned this one."
Kelsie Jimenez · 801.420.2284
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Before Signing
Confirm your net proceeds and how you will be paid with the title company
Wire or check. If wired, verify the account by phone, never from email alone
Have the home fully vacated and cleaned for the buyer's walkthrough
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to signing
Time your utility cancellation to the possession date, not before
Gather all keys, remotes, mailbox keys, and gate or alarm codes
At Signing
Sign the deed and all closing documents
Provide any payoff or HOA information the title company still needs
After Signing
Wait for recording confirmation from the title company
Recording = ownership transfers. This is when it is final.
Release keys to the buyer once recording is confirmed
Receive your net proceeds (wire or check)
Cancel your homeowner's insurance after recording, not before