How Long Do I Have to Move Out After Closing?

You have as long as your purchase contract says. In a Utah REPC, you and the buyer agree on possession, either when the deed is recorded or a set number of hours or days after that, and if you need longer, it is usually set up in a separate written agreement.

I am Delia Bayna, a REALTOR with eXp Realty in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). For many of my sellers, the move matters more than any other date in the sale. Here is how the move-out day gets set, and how to plan for it.

The REPC has a section for possession, which means the day the buyer gets the keys and the house becomes theirs to live in. The choices on the form are when the sale records, a number of hours after it records, or a number of calendar days after it records.

That choice is made when you accept an offer, not on closing day. It is part of what you are comparing when offers come in, which I cover in how to compare two offers on your house. Once both of you sign, the date is set, and changing it later takes the buyer's agreement in writing.

So the best time to think about your move is before you list. Ask yourself how long you really need, and say so early.

Possession when the sale records. The buyer gets the keys when the sale is done. You are moved out by the time the sale records. This is the simplest choice, and it means you need somewhere to go before that day.

Possession a set number of hours or days after. This gives you a short cushion to finish moving after you sign. It can also mean the money from the sale arrives before the last truck is loaded. Buyers may agree to a short cushion, especially when the rest of the offer works for them.

Whichever you choose, the house should be handed over in the condition your contract calls for. In general, that means about the same shape it was in when you accepted the offer, with your things and any trash gone. Leave the keys, remotes, and codes I list in what happens on closing day.

Sometimes a few days is not enough. Maybe your next home is not ready, or you are buying and selling at the same time. Then you can ask the buyer to let you stay after closing for a set time. This is called a rent-back, and it is usually written up as its own agreement.

A good rent-back agreement spells out how long you stay, what you pay, who pays the utilities, and what happens if you need more time. Talk with your insurance agent too. Once the sale closes, the buyer owns the house, and you will want coverage for your own belongings while you are still there. The buyer's loan may also limit how long they can wait to move in.

I walk through how a rent-back fits with buying your next place in how to buy and sell at the same time.

Moving in late fall here takes a little extra planning. Snow can come early, and it gets dark before many people finish work. Book movers early, keep the driveway and front steps shoveled on moving day, and plan to finish loading in daylight when you can.

Leave the furnace running at a normal temperature when you move out, so pipes do not freeze before the buyer moves in. Check whether the sprinkler system has been blown out for winter, and if it has not, ask your agent whether the contract makes that your job or the buyer's. Clear out the garage early too. Snow shovels, sleds, and old paint cans tend to be the last things anyone packs.

Start sorting before you list, not after you sign. For someone leaving a home they have lived in for decades, the sorting takes longer than the move. Decide what goes with you, what goes to family, and what gets donated or sold, one room at a time.

Then set the possession date around the move you can really make, and put it in your offer terms from the start.

I call and email every client every Friday, from the day we start until after closing. As your move gets close, the Friday call covers the possession date, the truck, and what still needs to happen. I spent eighteen years teaching, and I know a calendar on the fridge calms people more than any pep talk does. I will tell you what timing I would ask for. It is your call, and I will support it either way.

My downsizing page covers how I plan the sale and the next home together. You can also read more about selling a home in Salt Lake City.

Do I have to be moved out before closing?

Only if your contract says possession passes when the sale records. Your REPC can also give you a set number of hours or days after that.

Can I stay in my house after I sell it?

Yes, if the buyer agrees. A short stay can be written into the possession terms. A longer one is usually a rent-back, set up in a separate written agreement.

What condition does the house need to be in when I move out?

The condition your contract calls for. In general, that is about the same shape it was in when you accepted the offer, with your belongings and trash removed.

Do I need insurance during a rent-back?

Talk with your insurance agent. Once the sale closes, the buyer owns the house, and you will want coverage for your own belongings while you are still living there.

This article is general information and is not legal advice. For questions about contract terms, talk to a Utah real estate attorney.