Selling this summer? Waltham real estate moves fast—if your title doesn’t slow it down. Get ahead as Topkins & Bevans in Waltham, shares their June checklist for savvy sellers.

Don’t gamble with your closing date. To ensure a smooth, secure Waltham real estate transaction, call Topkins & Bevans in Waltham at (781) 890-6230 and get your title in order now.

June Checklist for Waltham Sellers: Get Your Title Docs in Order Before You List

Thinking of listing your Waltham home this summer? Before you schedule a photographer or plant a "For Sale" sign in the yard, make sure your title documents are in order. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid delays—and headaches—at closing.

Title Documents Matter More Than You Think

The June real estate market in Massachusetts, especially in Waltham, moves fast. Families are trying to buy and move before the new school year, interest rates fluctuate, and buyers are eager to lock in properties before prices tick up further. That kind of urgency often puts pressure on sellers to rush—but when it comes to title documentation, rushing can be risky.

Clearing up your title early means fewer surprises for the buyer, fewer delays for your closing, and fewer last-minute calls from your real estate attorney.

So, what’s on your June checklist if you're getting ready to sell in Waltham's real estate market?

1. Locate Your Deed and Verify Legal Ownership

You’d be surprised how many sellers run into issues with property deeds. Maybe the name on the deed doesn’t match the current owner (a common issue with inherited property), or perhaps an old co-owner was never formally removed after a divorce.

Take time now to:

• Locate your original property deed.
• Confirm that your name appears exactly as it should.
• Check that the legal description of the property is accurate.

If there’s an issue, it’s easier to correct it now than in the final week before closing.

You’ve staged the home and priced it right—now finish strong. Call Topkins & Bevans in Waltham at (781) 890-6230 to clear your title and close with confidence in Waltham real estate.

2. Resolve Any Outstanding Liens

A lien is a legal claim against your property, usually due to unpaid debts. It could come from a contractor who was never paid, a tax bill that went unnoticed, or even an old mortgage that was never properly discharged.

In Massachusetts, a title search will uncover:

• Tax liens (state or federal)
• Mechanics liens
• Unreleased mortgages or home equity loans
• Municipal charges (like unpaid water bills)

If you’re not sure whether your property has liens attached, a local title company can help you run a preliminary title search. In Waltham real estate, these liens can quickly sideline an otherwise smooth transaction.

3. Request a Preliminary Title Report

The best way to know what’s coming is to see it before the buyer does. A preliminary title report is essentially a sneak peek at what the buyer’s attorney or title company will find during their search.

Getting this early helps you:

• Address potential issues now
• Provide buyers with a clean report up front
• Instill confidence in your sale

Think of it as pre-listing homework. In competitive markets like Waltham, where multiple offers are common in June, giving buyers peace of mind can actually give you negotiating leverage.

4. Verify That Property Boundaries Are Correct

Does your fence sit a few inches onto the neighbor’s land? Is that shed technically outside the property line? Even minor encroachments can become major problems when attorneys start reviewing survey maps and title descriptions.

If you haven’t had a survey done in years—or ever—it might be time. Especially if:

• You’ve made exterior improvements since purchasing.
• You live in a neighborhood with tight lot lines.
• Your listing is likely to attract detail-oriented buyers.

Waltham’s blend of older homes and newer construction can sometimes create gray areas. Clearing those up before listing protects your deal and your timeline.

5. Make Sure All Heirs, Trustees, or Co-Owners Are On Board

If the home is held in a trust, or jointly owned with a spouse or sibling, everyone involved needs to agree to sell. Simple, right? Not always.

Some common issues that hold up closings include:

• Missing signatures from out-of-state co-owners
• Disputes among heirs in inherited properties
• Trustees who need updated legal authority to sign on behalf of the trust

Massachusetts law has strict rules around who can sign what. It’s smart to work with a title agency early to ensure everyone’s aligned and legally able to proceed with the sale.

Don’t let last-minute title issues sabotage your closing. Topkins & Bevans in Waltham will get your paperwork in perfect order—call at (781) 890-6230 now and sell with confidence.