Take notes during or immediately after conversations with loan representatives. It will help refresh your memory later and may be helpful if you end up disputing the terms. This is a tough one. There's no doubt that applying for a loan with two lenders will give you the upper hand. You can play the lenders against one another and negotiate down the interest rate and costs.
Most people sit down to sign their loan papers a day or two before escrow closes.
But unless you are under a tight deadline, arrange to have the documents sent to you a week or two early. It will cut down on the stress and enable you to read the papers without everyone looking over your shoulder. Also, if you discover any surprises, there may still be time to fix them.