The week before closing is when most buyers get nervous and a few make avoidable mistakes. Here's exactly what to do — and what not to do — in the seven days before you get your keys.
The purchase agreement is signed. The inspection is done. Your loan is approved. Now you’re in the home stretch — and somehow the last week before closing feels like the longest.
We’ve been on the title side of thousands of closings in the New Orleans metro and across the Northshore. Here’s what we’ve learned about what buyers should do — and what they definitely shouldn’t — in the seven days before they get their keys.
Your lender is required to deliver the Closing Disclosure (CD) at least three business days before closing. When it arrives, read it carefully.
The CD is a detailed breakdown of every cost associated with your loan and closing: the loan amount, interest rate, monthly payment, lender fees, prepaid items, escrow amounts, and the cash-to-close figure you’ll need to bring.
What to check:
If something doesn’t look right, call your lender immediately — not the day before closing.
The day before closing is too late to realize your funds aren’t ready. By Tuesday, you should know exactly how you’re bringing your closing funds.
Option 1: Wire transfer. If you’re wiring funds, confirm the wire instructions directly with our office by phone — never trust wire instructions that arrive only by email without a follow-up call. Wire fraud targeting real estate transactions is real and increasing. We will always confirm wire instructions with you verbally before you move money.
Option 2: Cashier’s or certified check. If you’re bringing a check, get it made out to “Title Management Group” for the exact cash-to-close amount on your Closing Disclosure. Personal checks are not accepted at closing.
Get this sorted by Tuesday so you’re not at a bank scrambling Wednesday morning.
Your purchase agreement likely entitles you to a final walk-through — typically within 24 hours of closing. Do it.
The walk-through isn’t an opportunity to renegotiate. It’s to confirm:
If something is wrong at the walk-through, you need to raise it before you’re at the closing table signing documents.
Bring to closing:
If you’re married, both spouses typically need to attend and bring their own ID — even if only one person is on the loan.
Before closing, do not:
Make large deposits into your bank account. Unexplained deposits can trigger a last-minute call from your lender asking for documentation. If you’re receiving a gift or transferring money, talk to your loan officer first.
Apply for new credit. A new credit inquiry or account can change your credit score and your debt-to-income ratio — and could cause your loan approval to be reconsidered.
Quit your job or change your employment status. Your loan approval was based on your income. Any change to your employment should be disclosed to your lender immediately.
Make large purchases. Buying a car, furniture, appliances, or anything else that appears on your credit report before closing can affect your loan terms or delay your closing.
Ignore calls from your lender or title company. Last-minute questions happen. Answer them quickly.
Closing typically takes 60–90 minutes for a residential purchase. We’ll go through every document, explain what it is and what it does, and answer every question you have.
You will sign a lot. Louisiana closings involve more documents than most states — the authentic act of sale, the mortgage documents, the title insurance applications, the ALTA settlement statement, and numerous lender disclosures. We pace it so you understand what you’re signing at each step. We do not rush you.
At the end, once everything is signed and funds are confirmed, you get the keys.
1. Change your locks. The sellers — and every contractor, cleaner, or showing agent who had a key — had access to those locks. New locks are cheap peace of mind.
2. Contact the Jefferson Parish (or St. Tammany Parish) assessor about homestead exemption. Louisiana homeowners are entitled to a homestead exemption that can significantly reduce your property tax bill. The deadline is typically December 31 of the year you purchase. Don’t miss it. It’s not automatic.
3. Keep your closing documents safe. Your act of sale, title insurance policy, and settlement statement should be stored somewhere you can find them. A fireproof box, a safe deposit box, or a secure digital scan works. You may need these documents years from now.
You’re going to do great. We do this every day, and we’ve never met a buyer who wasn’t nervous before their first Louisiana closing. By the time you leave with your keys, you’ll wonder what the nerves were about.
Closing with us soon? Your coordinator’s contact info is in your welcome email. Don’t hesitate to reach out — that’s exactly what we’re here for.
Louisiana is the only civil law jurisdiction in the United States. That's not just a trivia fact — it changes how property is owned, transferred, and protected in ways that affect every real estate closing in the state.
Read →Call us or send a message — we explain this stuff every day and we're happy to talk through how it applies to your specific situation. Solicite un título en línea, pida una cotización o programe un cierre — en oficina, en su ubicación o de forma remota.