Buyer’s Responsibility Overview
If you are looking to record a deed for a property title change, the City of West Chicago requires real estates transfers or changes be issued a Deed Certification Number. The following steps will help guide you through the process of meeting those requirements to make sure that your closing goes as smoothly as possible. If you have any additional questions, please call the Community Development Department at (630) 293-2200 extension 131 or 141 and we will be happy to assist you.
- Verify Inspection Exemption
The following transactions or transfers of real estate are examples which are exempt from the inspection unless otherwise stated below. Please note, however, that these transactions will still require a Deed Certification Number.
- No change in the occupant or tenant of the structure.
- Sellers relocating within the limits of West Chicago are exempt from paying the inspection fee. An inspection, however, is required.
- New construction.
- Deeds or trust documents which secure debt or other obligation.
- Deeds or trust documents which, without additional consideration, confirm, correct, modify, or supplement a deed previously recorded.
- Deeds or trust documents of release of property which is security for a debt or other obligation.
In the case of an exemption as listed above, it is the applicant’s responsibility to submit adequate documentation to support an exemption. Please provide the Community Development Department with a copy of the signed deed or trust document (and any other documents reasonably necessary) in order to determine exemption eligibility. Please allow for five (5) business days from the presentation of the documents for an assessment of the exemption to be made.
Any party desiring to close a real estate property transaction prior to the determination of exemption eligibility shall be subject to an inspection and applicable inspection fee as imposed by the Ordinance.
- Final Water Reading
A final water and sewer usage meter reading is required for all exempt transactions and amount due must be paid in full before stamp is issued. To request a final water bill, you need to call (630) 293-2200 extension 120 to schedule a date for a final water meter reading. Please call to schedule at least TWO working days prior to your closing date.
- Check for Outstanding Balances
In addition to paying your final water bill, as the seller (grantor) of your home or property, it is also your responsibility to make certain that any and all outstanding balances owed to the City are paid prior to your closing. Outstanding balances owed to the City may include:
- Water bills
- Parking Tickets
- Ordinance Violations resulting in Citations and/or Adjudication Fines
- Liens/Memorandums of Judgment
- Miscellaneous Receivable
- Groot (waste services)
Still uncertain about what you might owe? Please call our office.
- Deed Certification Number
West Chicago City Ordinance (Sec. 1-11) requires that a Deed Certification Number be attached to a deed when a title is recorded for any and all transfers of real estate transactions. To obtain a Deed Certification Number, please complete the Deed Certification Form. Make sure that it is signed by at least one of the sellers (grantors) or agent thereof, and then presented to the City’s Administrative Services Department, 475 Main St., West Chicago, Illinois 60185. For the Deed Certification Number to be issued, full payment of any applicable inspection fee (unless exempt), final water bill and outstanding fines is also expected.