Your role in the loan process is very important. It is vital that you do not make any major life changes immediately before or during the loan process. Your Essex loan officer will help guide you through and make sure you do not hit any “bumps” in the road.
WHAT TO DO
✓ Make sure you have access to original documents such as paystubs, bank statements and other important financial documents in physical or digital form.
✓ Provide a copy of your earnest money check or deposit from your own personal bank account.
✓ If you plan to receive gift funds for any portion of your down payment or closing costs, please notify your loan officer. Gift funds are acceptable only if certain criteria are met. Advances from credit cards for down payments/closing costs are never acceptable.
✓ Notify your loan officer of any employment changes such as a recent raise, promotion, transfer, or change of pay status. Employment will be verified prior to closing.
✓ Be aware that a new credit report could be pulled just prior to closing.
THINGS TO AVOID
✓ Don't close or open any asset accounts or transfer funds between accounts without first discussing with your loan officer about the proper documentation required for your loan.
✓ Don't deposit any monies outside of your automated payroll deposits, particularly cash or cash from the sale of personal property, without first notifying your loan officer. Many guidelines require substantial documentation as to the source of these deposits.
✓ Don't change jobs or employers without inquiring about the impact this change might have on your loan.
✓ Don't make major purchases prior to your contract. This includes but is not limited to a new car, furniture, appliances, etc. as this may impact your loan qualification.
✓ Don't open, increase or close any liabilities, including credit cards, student loans or other lines of credit during the loan process as it may impact your qualifying loan amount.
Looking to learn more? Talk to an Essex Mortgage Professional.
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
Financial and income documents
☐ Most recent pay stubs covering the last 30 days
☐ W-2s for the last two calendar years
☐ Two months most recent statements for all checking, savings, CD, money market, and/or securities-brokerage accounts (please include all pages even blank ones)
☐ Two months most recent statements (or most current quarter) for all retirement accounts (IRAs, SEP-IRAs, 401Ks or 403Bs)
☐ Most recent statement of stock options, employee stock option purchase plans, and similar only if you’re using them as part of the down payment or for closing costs
☐ Federal tax returns (1040s) for the last two calendar years; please include complete returns with all schedules filed (State returns are not needed)
☐ All federal K-1s, partnership returns (1065s) and corporate or S- corp. returns (1120s or 1120-Ss) for the last two calendar years (if applicable)
☐ YTD Profit & Loss Statement if you’re self-employed or an independent contractor
Property documents
☐ Leases on all rental properties you may own, if applicable
☐ Mortgage, real estate tax and insurance premium statements for these properties
☐ Most recent mortgage statement (refinance only)
☐ Current year tax statement, if not reflected on mortgage statement (refinance only)
☐ Insurance declaration page (refinance only)
Personal documents
☐ Complete bankruptcy papers, if applicable
☐ Divorce decree and settlement statements, if applicable and only if requested by Underwriting to verify receipt or obligation to pay alimony or child support or to verify the division of assets
Proof of identity
☐ Copy of state-issued driver's license (front and back) or passport showing your date of birth
☐ If not a U.S. citizen: a resident alien card (front and back); resident alien application or H1B or L1 Visa plus passport as applicable
When you are ready to get started, here are a few of the documents that any mortgage lender would request. It is important to note that while this is a fairly comprehensive list, the documents needed from you might vary, and will be customized to your unique situation. Generally speaking, this checklist applies to purchases and refinances.
WHAT TO HAVE READY
Looking to learn more? Talk to an Essex Mortgage Professional.
Download Your Own
GET AHEAD OF YOUR MOVE: A COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST
- 8 WEEKS before the move
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Sort. Walk through every room and open every drawer; decide what to take to your new home and what to get rid of. Make a list of “keep” items that will require special packing or extra insurance coverage.
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Purge. Donate items you no longer want, or host a yard sale.
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Hire movers. Research moving companies. Always ask for the mover’s U.S. Department of Transportation license number; whether the company is bonded; and whether the company is licensed for interstate moves, if you’re moving out of state. Request in-home estimates to receive the most accurate pricing.
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Contact your children’s school. Notify the school that you’re moving, and obtain copies of your children’s records. Contact new schools for enrollment and record-transfer procedures.
Download Your Own
- 6 WEEKS before the move
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Make travel arrangements. Book hotel stays if you’ll need lodging on the road or before your new home’s ready; book any necessary flights.
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Order packing supplies. Purchase standard boxes in various sizes; bubble wrap; packing paper; packing tape; and specialty containers, such as wardrobe and dish-pack boxes.
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Contact your doctors. Obtain copies of medical records for all family members, or have the records sent to your new physicians. Haven’t found new ones yet? Ask your current doctors for recommendations.
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Contact insurance agents. Find out whether your move necessitates changes in your medical, dental, vehicle or personal property insurance.
- 4 WEEKS before the move
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Start packing. Begin with items you use only rarely or seasonally (e.g., fondue pot; pool toys); save items you use frequently (e.g., TV remote; your toothbrush) until just before moving day. Snap photos of valuables and pack them separately; you’ll carry those items with you.
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Label, label, label. Mark each box with its contents and the room it’s destined for in the new house. The only exception: Don’t list contents on a box that contains valuables, to avoid theft.
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Inventory. Keep a running list of each packed box, its contents and what room it belongs in. Later, you can match this against your moving company’s inventory sheet.
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Measure. Ensure that all of your belongings can make it out of your old home and into your new one; measure any tall, wide or oddly shaped items, as well as any doorways or tight spaces they’ll need to fit through, so there are no surprises on moving day.
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Update your computer. Download any necessary software updates and ensure that all of your files and photos are backed up to an online cloud storage service or an external hard drive that you’ll carry with you.
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Make arrangements for pets. Book a pet sitter or care facility for moving day. If you’re moving out of town, make travel plans for your furry friends and ensure your veterinarian has authorized your pets for the journey.
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Contact utility companies. Instruct existing utilities to disconnect services the day after your move; direct new utilities to install services at least a day before you arrive.
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Consider storage. If your new home won’t be ready when you leave your old one, research storage options in your new community.
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Clear the freezer. Start using up frozen food items that will be a hassle to move. Then, tackle the pantry and fridge.
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Visit an auto mechanic. Get an oil change, tire fixes and any necessary tune-ups to ensure that your car survives the move.
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Change your address. Visit USPS.gov or your local post office to officially change your address. Leave your forwarding address with a neighbor, just in case.
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Alert important parties. Notify your employer, banks, credit card companies, subscription services, friends and family of your move.
- 2 WEEKS before the move
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Confirm the movers. Contact the moving company and double-check your plans. Make sure the insurance in place is enough to cover your valuables.
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Clear out. Empty out storage units, safe deposit boxes and any other off-site storage spots. And don’t forget to pick up your dry cleaning.
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Take time off. Evaluate how many work days you’ll need to make the move, and then request time off from your employer. Clean the rugs. Have area rugs cleaned; they’ll arrive rolled and wrapped from the cleaner, ready to unroll at the new house.
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Pay it forward. As you pack, gather warranty information, manuals and other house-specific information in a binder for the new owners.
- 1 WEEK before the move
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Finish packing. Aim to complete the general household packing a couple of days before moving day.
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Pack your bag. Your last bag should contain at least one change of clothes — or more, if you’re moving out of state — for each person in the family, as well as all of the basics (e.g., phone charger, toilet paper) you need to survive for a few days without the items on the moving truck.
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Visit the pharmacy. Refill any prescriptions you’ll need for the next month, and arrange to transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new community.
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Unplug. Disconnect and clean any large appliances (e.g., washing machine, fitness equipment) you’re moving; contact a professional to disconnect gas lines. If you’re moving your fridge, defrost the freezer and clean it at least a day before you move.
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Make your last donation. Arrange for a final pickup of all remaining items in your “donate” pile.
- A FEW DAYS before the move
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Confirm the movers ... again. Triple-check arrangements with the moving company. Verify how much you’ll owe on moving day, and what forms of payment are accepted. Ask for a cellphone number for the day-of contact, and confirm the crew’s arrival time. Prepare written directions to your new home and hand them to the movers on moving day.
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Get the keys. Arrange to receive the keys to your new home, or schedule the realtor or landlord to meet you on moving day.
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Donate food. If you’d rather move fewer boxes, donate nonperishables to a local food pantry.
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Disassemble furniture. Place screws, brackets and fasteners in a small plastic storage bag, and label it. Even better: Tape the bag to the furniture’s underside.
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Get rid of it. Most movers prohibit moving boxes that contain paint, aerosol cans, matches, alcohol and other chemicals. Properly dispose of these items, or plan to move them yourself.
- MOVING DAY
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Say goodbye. Take time to say a proper “so long” to your old house before things get hectic. Children, in particular, benefit from some closure: Walk through the house recalling fond memories you have, and talk about what fun you’ll create in your new home.
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Meet the movers. Greet the moving crew and ensure that all workers are representatives of the moving company you hired. Be sure the moving truck’s U.S. Department of Transportation license number is the same as the number on your estimate.
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Supervise the load-in. Assign a helper to watch the moving crew stack your belongings inside the truck, keeping an eye out for damage.
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Clean the old house. Tidy up rooms as the moving crew empties them, or consider hiring a cleaning service.
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Keep valuables with you. Be sure the movers don’t mistakenly load boxes containing your laptop, jewelry, passports and other irreplaceables you should keep near you at all times.
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Make a final walk-through. Lock your old home’s windows and doors, turn off lights and ceiling fans and make sure nothing’s left before you leave for good.
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Roll out the carpet protector. Lay down plastic carpet protector at the new house, if your movers haven’t already done so.
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Show the moving crew around. Point out specific rooms so boxes end up where they belong.
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Watch for damage and missing items. Your movers will make an inventory sheet, called the “bill of lading,” that notes the condition of your items, including damage to any boxes or furniture.
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Pay the movers. Complete the transaction using the payment method you agreed to when you confirmed the move. If the moving crew did a good job, a tip of 10 to 15 percent of the total fee is customary.
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Get it in writing. Before the movers leave, sign the inventory sheet — and make sure the mover in charge signs it, too. Get a copy for your records.
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Do an initial clean. Vacuum and mop floors before you set down furniture; wipe down countertops; and do a deep clean of tubs, showers and toilets.
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Assemble furniture. Grab your toolbox and start reassembling furniture; don’t wait until your helpers have gone home.
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Start unpacking. If you notice any damage to your boxes, set them aside until the moving company can return to inspect them. Take photos of the damage for your records.