Sean & Tina Brink
Featured PropertiesFree Home SearchBuyer HelpSeller HelpUseful LinksMeet The TeamHome

Buyer Help: Pre-settlement Checklist IF YOU ARE THE BUYER of the house about to go to settlement:

  • Call the settlement company to identify yourself to the contact person and to give him/her your contact information (work and home tel. numbers, cell phone numbers, e mail addresses).
  • Switch all applicable utility accounts to your name, effective the date of settlement.

FREDERICK COUNTY UTILITY NUMBERS:

  • Alleghany Power: 1-800-255-3443
  • Washington Gas (Frederick Division): 301-662-2151
  • Verizon Telephone: 301-954-6230
  • Frederick City Water & Sewer: 301-694-1421
    * If the house that you are buying is in the county, billing for water and sewer automatically changes names when the county receives the deed from the settlement attorney's office.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY UTILITY NUMBERS:

  • Pepco Electric: 202-833-7500
  • Washington Natural Gas: 1-800-752-7520 or 703-750-1000
  • Verizon Telephone: 301-954-6260
  • Call your insurance agent and buy home insurance (also known as "hazard insurance") effective the date of settlement (NOTE: this is replacement insurance for the structural components of the house that you are buying. It does NOT cover the future contents of the house - that requires a separate insurance rider).

WASHINGTON COUNTY UTILITY NUMBERS:

  • Alleghany Power: 301-790-3400
  • AC&T Company (Gas): 301-797-7923
  • Verizon Telephone : 301-954-6260

PREPARATION

  • The home should be vacant and ready for a pre-settlement walk through inspection approx. 1 hour prior to settlement. 
  • You and any other buyers of the house are required to bring a photo ID with you to settlement (valid drivers license, passport etc).
  • If you or any other buyer of the property will not be able to attend closing, please call the attorneys office and ask them to make arrangements for a "Power of Attorney", whereby which someone else can sign for the person who won't be able to attend.
  • Approx. 3-4 hours before settlement (NOT EARLIER), call the settlement lawyers office and request them to give you a final tally of funds that you'll need to bring to settlement. Round up to the nearest $100 and bring that amount as a CERTIFIED CHECK made payable to the settlement attorney's office. Ask the attorneys office whom the check is to be made payable to. Don't forget to bring your checkbook with you to settlement. If your certified funds are more than adequate, you will receive a refund at closing. If your certified funds are short by a small amount, you can write a personal check to make up the difference.

IF YOU LIKE TO READ EVERYTHING WORD FOR WORD, LET THE SETTLEMENT OFFICE KNOW. THEY'LL NEED TO SCHEDULE EXTRA TIME FOR YOU - OR - REQUEST YOU TO COME IN EARLY TO REVIEW THE PAPERS.

Printable Version - click here for printable version of document.