Seller's Responsibility Overview
Whether you are just thinking about selling your home or already entertaining offers, it is best to become familiar with the City requirements first. 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.
- City Inspection
City Ordinance requires you to obtain a City inspection for the sale of your home or property. For planning purposes, we recommend scheduling your inspection at least one to two months before closing, as it is good for only six months. At the time of your inspection, a trained inspector will visit your home and check it for adequate property maintenance and minimum life safety requirements such as smoke detectors, ground fault interrupters and stair railings. For your convenience, please review the basic items to be inspected in the Existing Structures Inspection Report (PDF – 81k).
Scheduling: Inspections are conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (except for 12:00 PM) and last approximately 30 minutes. Please call our office at 630-293-2200 extension 131 or 141 when you are ready to schedule an appointment.
Fees and Payments: The fee for the inspection shall be a base fee of $100.00 plus twelve cents ($0.12) per square foot (your township will provide us with the square footage calculation). Vacant parcels (free of any structures) are required to be inspected presale as well. Vacant parcels are checked for tall grass or weeds and garbage and you will be charged a flat fee of $20.00 for this inspection. The inspection fee may be paid (along with any outstanding balance owed the City such as water) on the same date as you obtain the Deed Certification Number. Payments may be made by cash, check (payable to City of West Chicago), debit or credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa). If your inspection is approved the first time around, please refer to Step 2 below.
Unapproved Inspections and Possible Inspection Exemptions:
What happens if your inspection is not approved the first time around? Please click here for further information and to know your options.
There are certain instances, such as a transfer of title with no change in occupancy, when an inspection is not required. To determine if you are exempt from the inspection process, please click here for more information.
- Final Water Reading
The sale of your home will also require you to pay for any outstanding water/sewer used during your stay at the property. 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 before your closing date. While time frames may vary, the final water reading is often scheduled the day before your closing.
- 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 Form
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, final water bill and outstanding fines is also expected.
Looking to obtain Deed Certification for other types of Property Title Changes? Please call City Hall at 630-293-2200.
Unapproved Inspections
If the inspection of your home was not approved the first time, it is your choice to correct the violations or sell the property as is. If you decide to make the corrections needed, a re-inspection is required. Please call us to schedule a re-inspection appointment. There is no additional fee for a re-inspection. Once your inspection is approved, please refer to Step 2. Final Water Reading.
However, if you decide to sell your property as is, without making the necessary corrections, it becomes the buyer’s responsibility to make any outstanding repairs and to post a bond with the City before the Deed Certification Number can be issued.