Good questions Dan. Scotts products are good. Scotts step program is not so good. For starter fertilizer, use any product labeled as starter fertilizer. I think it has a high second number (high phosphorus) available at LoweÂs, HD, etc. Follow the package instructions. Next, fertilize your entire lawn with high nitrogen lawn fertilizer after the grass stops growing but before hard freeze, Thanksgiving would be a good time. Next year. March Crabgrass preventer with fertilizer. After which you will switch to organic fertilizers using soy bean meal and / or alfalfa pellets, available at farm animal feed stores. You can have the darkest, thickest, healthiest lawn on the block next year using organics. Have a look at the FAQ below.
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Bill Hill

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic LawnCare FAQ

So it would make sense to put a 1/4" layer of compost on top of my KBG seeds after planning. But how do I put the compost on without walking on the newly planted seeds?

Maybe I could Areate then put the 1/4 compost down and the seeds last. I could seed small sections at a time and use a broom or rake to sow/mix the seeds into the compost?

Walking on newly planted seed, the first week, does not hurt anything as long as you are not leaving foot prints in soft soil. Seed and then compost would be great. If you do that, then you will truly have an amazing lawn nex year. BillHill

Nice lawn Bill Hill

Is Peat Moss a form of Compost?

Any organic matter serves the purpose of compost for seed beds. Spagnum moss however tends to repel water when it dries out.
I don't know how much ground you are going to cover and whether you have full irrigation or not, so be careful not to seed more than you can keep wet to establishment.
Pre-emergence herbicide works as a hormone that inhibits root development after germination. Crabgrass germinates after the KBG or fescue so you can overseed the less than perfect spots in the spring and have it going before the pre-M is applied if you need to.
I personally use the annual rye in the pring along with the perennial grasses and skip the pre-m altogether.
Water is very important. It means the difference between a well established lawn and a mediocre spotty one.

Yeah, love your grass, Bill.

Scott's products are fine, Dlenart. It's their schedule you don't want to abide by. Don't fertilize early in spring. An oversight on Bill's part, I'm sure. Wait until May but in March, you can apply Halts without fertilizer. And no synthetic fertilizer in summer, so skip the Scott's Summerguard. A very brief understanding is in the 9th response of this thread.