After acquiring a mortgage offer from your financial institution, spending an extended period of time searching for a house, working through piles of paperwork, and finally putting in an offer, you’re about to close on your first home! Congratulations. This is a huge milestone. You (and your real estate agent) have worked hard to get here.

You have only one remaining hurdle to clear: the closing process. While this step does not require strategy or out-of-the-box thinking, it can feel tedious, if not complex, for first-time buyers. Fear not, though—your real estate agent will guide you through precisely what you need to close on a house.

Speak with your agent about when you should plan to move. It is common for closing to take one to two months