Loan Signing Checklist: Preparing for Your Closing Appointment

1. Review your documents before signing day

Ask your lender or settlement agent how to obtain your closing documents in advance. Where your loan uses a Closing Disclosure, compare it with your most recent Loan Estimate. Check the loan amount, interest rate, monthly payment, and closing costs. Write down anything you do not understand.

Look carefully at names, the property address, and the completeness of the packet. If something appears wrong, contact the lender or settlement agent for corrections. Do not assume a discrepancy will automatically be fixed at the signing table.

2. Keep the right contacts handy

Save your loan officer’s and settlement agent’s phone numbers before the appointment. Ask whom to contact if a question comes up during signing, especially for an evening appointment.

Direct questions about loan terms or payments to your lender, and ask your settlement team about closing funds and completion steps. Questions about your legal rights belong with your attorney. Bring a short written question list so that you do not lose track of an important concern while reviewing several documents.

3. Confirm identification and attendance

Ask the closing team who needs to attend, which identification to bring, and whether any witness arrangements are needed. For identification-based notarization, Illinois Secretary of State guidance specifies an unexpired government-issued ID bearing a photograph and signature. Tell the notary ahead of time about an expired ID or a name difference.

Have the original identification available, rather than relying on a picture on your phone. Wait for instructions before signing documents that need notarization: the required notarial act determines whether a signature must be made in the notary’s presence.

4. Verify payment instructions independently

Closing funds are a target for fraud. Before sending money, confirm the instructions with a trusted representative using a phone number you established earlier, or confirm in person. Do not rely on a new phone number or link supplied in an unexpected email.

Treat last-minute changes to wire instructions as a reason to pause and verify. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends identifying trusted contacts before closing. Keep payment confirmation as instructed by your settlement team.

5. Plan the space and the next steps

For a mobile appointment, choose a quiet location with a clear table and enough seating. Confirm the address, access instructions, and who will provide the document packet. Reserve uninterrupted time rather than fitting the signing between other commitments.

Ask your closing team how you will receive your copies and when to expect funding, recording, or keys, as applicable. Confirm those milestones separately from the signing appointment.

Your signing-day checklist

• Documents reviewed and questions written down
• Lender and settlement contacts saved
• Original identification and required attendees ready
• Payment instructions independently confirmed
• Location, document delivery, and next steps confirmed