Just Closed a Real Estate Deal? Make Sure to Keep These Documents

There is a lot of paperwork associated with buying a home. But out of all that paperwork, which documents do you actually have to keep?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined key documents you’ll want to keep on hand during and after your home purchase, including:

Buyer’s agent agreement. Your buyer’s agent agreement outlines the details of your working relationship with your real estate agent, including details like the length of your engagement and who is responsible for paying the buyer’s fees—and you’ll want to have this document on hand in case you run into any agent-related issues once you’ve officially purchased a home.

Seller disclosures. Sellers are legally required to disclose certain home-related issues that could impact the sale of a property, like renovations that were done without a permit or potential health issues like lead-based paint. You’ll want to file any seller disclosures after you purchase the home; if you run into an issue with the home later on—and the seller was aware of the issue and didn’t disclose it—you’ll need this document for any potential lawsuits or legal action.

Property deed. The property deed is a document that confirms who legally owns a property—and, as a homeowner, it’s your proof that you’re the legal owner of your home. Because the property deed is sent directly to the buyer, the mortgage company and/or title company aren’t required to keep a copy of it, so you’ll want to make sure to keep it as proof of ownership.