closing on my first home next week - will i see the sellers at closing?

[Anonymous]

My agent is trying to get us to reschedule our closing appointment to accomodate the sellers, who she says will need to sign off on everything when we do. I have never heard of this - in fact, I thought it was uncommon to even see the sellers.
What is standard?

[Anonymous]

I've never seen the sellers at closing. We've bought three times.

[Anonymous]

It is typical to see the sellers unless there's a conflict on schedules or you (or the sellers) request separate closings.

Personally, after many closings, I now request separate. I don't like sitting across from the sellers at closing as by the time you get to that point there's typically some bad blood.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
Agreed, agreed. We got a good deal at the expense of the sellers' situation, so my normally gregarious self is anxious to see them.

[Anonymous]

I've bought twice and sellers were at closing both times.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the whole closing situation. In our last purchase, the sellers were there. Lovely people who left a welcome gift in the home for us.

But in a previous purchase, they were all separate transactions so we didn't see them.

[Anonymous]

Our seller finished just as we were arriving. It was a FSBO so we had met before.

[Anonymous]

we saw the sellers at our closing. Guess it just depends on the situation. I don't see what the big deal is. I didn't find it awkward or anything.

[Anonymous]

There is no "standard". Depending on the specific situations, both sides may or may not be at the same closing. It is common both to have both sides present at the same time and also to have separate closings. I've purchased and sold twice. Out of 4 closings, I've only seen the other party once, the most recent time that we sold our last house.

If it is convenient for you to reschedule to suit their schedule, do it. If not, then ask for separate closings. The only issue is that the sellers closing must be before the buyers closing (the buyer cannot sign off and receive title until the sellers have actually signed over the property).

[Anonymous]

I've had the sellers present at both of my closings, and I was there with the buyers at the closing for the house I sold. In all cases, I pretty much did what my realtor told me in terms of scheduling.

[Anonymous]

I've had the sellers / buyers present each time, and I've actually enjoyed meeting them. I guess I haven't had horrible negotiations or bad feelings, and I've thought it was kind of fun to meet the previous owners (or next owners) and pass on some of the history and insider info on the house and area. I liked the house that we bought this time enough that I brought the seller flowers at our closing, and then she came by with cookies at christmas time. Maybe it's unusual, but it's beautiful older home and I have appreciated feeling that sense of respect and continuity. So.... I'd say reschedule to make things work well for the sellers, and learn as much as you can from them while you're there!

[Anonymous]

The people we bought our last house from were in the middle of a REALLY nasty divorce at the time - that's how we got the house. He had been violently abusive to her and the whole neighborhood knew about it.

We were all at the closing together. Most awkward room I have ever been in, hands down, my entire life.

[Anonymous]

When we bought our house, in Virginia, in 2006, the sellers were at closing.

When we sold our house, in California in 2006, just a month or so before buying in VA, we were not at closing. Closing was supposed to take place almost a month earlier, but the buyers had problems with loan approval. It was a mess, and we ended up moving across country before settlement, so we wern't there. We had bought that house new 8 years earlier, and the builder was not present when we signed paperwork to buy.

[Anonymous]

Bought twice, sold once. Both parties were there all three times.
I agree it would be better not to have to face each other though.