The notary appointment is over, but the move is not automatically schedulable. Several steps follow one another and partly run in parallel during a property purchase. Anyone who bundles them all under the word “bought” may make funds available too early, book tradespeople for an uncertain date or already associate a key with complete ownership.
The contract determines the sequence
The obligation to acquire or transfer land generally requires notarisation pursuant to § 311b BGB. [DE-BGB] Which conditions apply for payment and handover then follows from the specifically agreed contract. This also applies if an acquaintance experienced a seemingly much simpler process when they bought.
Have the remaining steps and their dependencies explained to you before signing. Ask about terms you are not certain you can distinguish. A good personal checklist contains for each stage the trigger, the responsible party and the document by which you can recognise progress. It does not replace the contract, but it makes it manageable in everyday life.
Due date for the purchase price is a separate stage
The Federal Chamber of Notaries explains that payment is typically due only after certain securities have been provided, for example after the entry of a priority notice (Vormerkung) and secured release from encumbrances. The later transfer of title (ownership registration) is to be distinguished from this. Which conditions apply in the specific purchase is determined by the deed; the notary’s office is responsible for its legal explanation. [DE-NOTAR]
Therefore do not transfer money based solely on a verbal request or because an expected calendar date has been reached. Reconcile the payment request with the agreed procedure. If an account number is to be changed at short notice, resolve this via an already reliably known channel of contact. An email with a convincing letterhead is not sufficient proof of identity.
The bank must match the actual payment request
Ask your financing institution in good time which documents must be available for the disbursement. The bank does not automatically know every individual agreement of your purchase contract. Conversely, a confirmed contract appointment does not yet mean that all conditions for disbursement have been met.
Editorial recommendation: Plan a clear information channel between you, the bank and the notary’s office, rather than supplying several people with unconnected partial messages. Record who receives the notice of due date, who initiates the disbursement and how you can verify its execution. In the event of a problem, contact the responsible specialist office and do not alter the contractual sequence on your own.
Transfer of possession is the practical takeover
The point in time from which you are actually to use the property and assume economic burdens must match the contract. A key handover should therefore not be organised separately from the agreed prerequisites. In particular, record the vacated condition, the scope of keys and any outstanding work unambiguously.
Example, editorially invented: A buyer wants to have a kitchen measured immediately after notarisation. Whether access is granted for this and what use that allows must be agreed separately. A viewing appointment is not automatically an early handover. That someone borrows a key briefly also does not answer the question of liability for renovation work.
Transfer of title remains a further task
Keep the documents concerning the later registration of title and check whether the agreed closing proofs are available. A flat may already have been practically handed over while the land register procedure is still ongoing. This time gap is not automatically an error; however the intended securities and conditions must be understood.
Align insurance, supply and administrative matters with the actual contractual situation. Inform the responsible bodies with the required proofs, rather than merely giving a general purchase date. Which notification is necessary also depends on the property, the contract and local procedures.
Prepare the move with flexible appointments
Until binding triggers are reached, external appointments should remain as adjustable as possible. A reservation for a move is different from an irreversibly fixed commissioning. Ask about change conditions and plan a realistic buffer. This is an organisational recommendation, not a prediction about processing times of authorities or banks.
This produces a reliable sequence: not simply a single purchase date, but several traceable stages with clear responsibilities. In case of deviations or delays, clarify the specific legal situation at the notary’s office or with your own qualified advice.