In Washington State, closing is considered the day that the deed is recorded into the buyer's names and the proceeds are paid to the seller. When you can take a legal possession of the property depends on the terms or conditions of the contract.

Different states handle closing procedures in different ways. In Washington State, buyers and sellers sign at separate times, typically tow to three days prior to closing. Closings are predominately handled by an Escrow Company.

Prior to signing, the Escrow Company will set an appointment with you to come in and sign. They will also give you the total amount of funds needed to close. You will need to bring the funds with you in the form of a certified or cashiers check.

If you have not already done so, you will need to provide proof of household insurance. This is something you will want to take care of a few weeks prior to signing, or when you loan officer recommends it.

Possession can vary. Legal possession can only occur when the deed is recorded and funds disbursed. The gray area becomes, what time of day did this occur. The deed is usually recorder in the early afternoon, but this is not always the case.

We also have a standard practice in Washington State called "Possession + X days". This means that possession is X days after recording and disbursement of funds. This was designed to give the sellers a chance to move out because most people need the proceeds from their home to purchase the next one.

Knowing exactly when you can have possession of your new home is a great relief. It allows you to proceed forward with your moving plans with out any delays. It will also establish an exact cutoff and start time for your utilities.