Real Estate Crash Course – Step 8: Key Handover
Complete the purchase and get your keys
Before Handover
- Final loan paperwork with bank –
- Sign the mortgage agreement ("skuldebrev") and other loan documents.
- Book your move –
- Moving company or help from friends. Book ahead.
- Take time off work –
- Handover takes time. Plan for the whole day.
What Happens at Handover
- Bank releases funds –
- The money is transferred from the bank to the seller.
- Deed of sale is signed –
- Confirms the sale is complete. Called "köpebrev".
- You get the keys –
- All keys, garage remotes, door codes, mailbox keys.
- Houses: title deed registered –
- Title deed ("lagfart") is registered at Lantmäteriet. You pay stamp duty ("stämpelskatt").
What to Check at Walkthrough
- Final walkthrough –
- Check condition, no new damage or removed items.
- Fixtures and appliances –
- All agreed appliances and fixtures are there.
- Read meters –
- Electricity, water, heating. Note them down.
- Keys and remotes –
- All keys and remotes should be accounted for.
- Any issues? –
- Document before you accept.
After Handover
- Arrange insurance –
- Home insurance ("hemförsäkring") for apartments, property insurance ("fastighetsförsäkring") for houses.
- Transfer utilities –
- Electricity, internet, etc. in your name.
- Update your address –
- Skatteverket, Postnord, bank, subscriptions.
- Coop membership –
- You're automatically registered as a member of the association ("bostadsrättsförening").
- Consider changing locks –
- You don't know who has old keys.
- Celebrate! –
- You own a home!
Step 8 of 8