Congratulations!
You've reached a major milestone in your home selling journey—and we're thrilled to be part of it.
Now that your home is under contract, the next phase begins. There are important steps ahead involving deadlines, documentation, inspections, and negotiations. But rest assured, our experienced team is here to guide you through every detail with confidence and clarity.
This site is designed to ensure your home sale is:
In Full Compliance – We’ll help you stay aligned with the terms outlined in your sales agreement.
A Go-To Resource – Use this site as your personal reference tool to stay organized and informed at every step.
Strategic and Efficient – We’re here to help you maximize your return while minimizing surprises and delays.
Peace-of-Mind Focused – Selling a home can be complex, but we’re here to make it as smooth and stress-free as possible.
If you ever have questions or need one-on-one guidance, we’re always just a phone call, text, or email away. Let’s work together to ensure a successful and rewarding home sale!
Offer acceptance
Once you’ve officially accepted the buyer’s offer and signed the purchase agreement, the home sale process moves into a legally binding phase. This agreement outlines all the key terms of the transaction, including the purchase price, closing date, and any contingencies that must be met by both parties. With the contract in place, important deadlines are triggered—these include timeframes for the home inspection, buyer financing approval, appraisal, and any other contingencies such as the sale of the buyer’s current home. Each of these steps must be completed within the agreed-upon windows, and staying on top of these dates is crucial to ensure a smooth closing and to avoid potential delays or legal issues.
Home Inspection & Negotiations
After the purchase agreement is signed, one of the first major steps is the home inspection, which is typically scheduled by the buyer. A licensed home inspector will conduct a thorough evaluation of the property's condition, examining everything from the roof and foundation to the plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, and more. The goal is to identify any existing or potential issues that could impact the safety, functionality, or value of the home. Once the inspection report is completed, the buyer will review the findings and may choose to submit a formal request for repairs, replacements, or a credit toward the purchase price to offset the cost of addressing certain issues themselves. This can lead to a round of negotiations between the buyer and seller, where both parties work to reach a mutually acceptable solution. These negotiations can be as simple as agreeing to repair a leaky faucet or as complex as renegotiating the sale price due to major structural concerns. It’s important during this stage to be flexible and responsive, as how both parties handle inspection-related negotiations can significantly influence whether the sale moves forward smoothly or encounters delays—or, in some cases, even falls apart.
Appraisal (If Buyer is Financing)
If the buyer is financing the purchase of your home with a mortgage, the lender will require a professional appraisal as part of the loan approval process. The purpose of the appraisal is to independently assess the market value of your home to ensure that the property is worth the amount the buyer has agreed to pay. The lender selects and sends a licensed appraiser—who is neutral and unaffiliated with either party—to evaluate the home based on factors such as its condition, size, location, recent comparable sales in the area, and current market trends. The appraiser then submits a report with an estimated value of the home. If the appraised value comes in at or above the agreed-upon purchase price, the sale typically proceeds as planned. However, if the appraisal comes in lower than the offer price, it can create a financing issue, as lenders will only provide a loan based on the appraised value, not the higher contract price. In this case, additional negotiations are often necessary. The buyer may ask you to reduce the sale price to match the appraisal, or they may need to cover the difference in cash. Alternatively, both parties might meet in the middle, or the buyer could cancel the contract altogether if the financing or appraisal contingency allows. Because a low appraisal can delay or even derail a transaction, it’s important to understand the process, be prepared to negotiate if needed, and work closely with your agent to protect your interests.
Title Search & Insurance
As part of the closing process, the title company plays a critical role in ensuring that the property’s title—the legal right to own and transfer the home—is clear and free of any issues that could affect the buyer’s ownership after closing. The title company conducts a thorough title search, reviewing public records and legal documents to verify that the seller legally owns the property and has the right to sell it. This search looks for any outstanding liens, judgments, easements, unpaid property taxes, or other encumbrances that could create legal complications for the buyer. If any issues are discovered during this search, they must be resolved before the transaction can proceed.
Once the title is confirmed to be clear or any problems have been addressed, the title company will issue title insurance. This is a one-time cost paid at closing and is designed to protect the buyer—and in most cases, the lender—from potential future claims or disputes over ownership that weren’t uncovered during the title search. For example, if an unknown heir later claims rights to the property or if a previously undisclosed lien surfaces, the title insurance policy helps cover the legal costs and financial loss. The owner’s title insurance policy protects the buyer, while the lender’s policy (which is typically required if the buyer is using a mortgage) protects the bank’s financial interest in the property. Ensuring the title is clear and insured is a vital step in transferring ownership safely and legally.
Contingency Period Ends
During the home sale process, buyers typically include several contingencies in the purchase agreement to protect themselves and ensure that certain conditions are met before they are fully committed to completing the transaction. The most common contingencies include financing, home inspection, and appraisal.
These contingencies must be satisfied or formally waived—a process known as removing contingencies—before the sale can move forward with confidence. Once all contingencies are removed in writing, it signals that the buyer is fully committed and that there are no remaining contractual conditions that could prevent the transaction from closing. At this point, the deal is considered much stronger and more secure, paving the way for final preparations and a successful closing.
Final Walk-Through
As the closing date approaches, the buyer will typically schedule a final walk-through of the property, usually within 24 to 48 hours before the closing appointment. This step is crucial because it gives the buyer one last opportunity to personally inspect the home and ensure that it is in the condition agreed upon in the contract. During this walk-through, the buyer verifies that the property has been properly maintained since the initial offer and that no new damage has occurred.
One of the primary purposes of the final walk-through is to confirm that any repairs or improvements negotiated after the home inspection have been completed satisfactorily. For example, if the buyer requested that the seller fix a leaking roof, replace a broken appliance, or address safety hazards, the walk-through is their chance to check that these repairs were done professionally and thoroughly.
In addition, the buyer checks that all agreed-upon fixtures, appliances, and systems (like heating, cooling, and plumbing) are present and functioning as expected. They also ensure that the home is free of any personal belongings or debris left behind by the seller, unless otherwise specified in the contract.
If the buyer identifies any significant issues during the walk-through—such as incomplete repairs, damage caused during the seller’s move-out, or missing items—this can delay the closing or prompt last-minute negotiations to resolve the problem. Because of its importance, the final walk-through is a critical step to provide peace of mind that the home they are about to purchase matches the condition they agreed to and that there won’t be surprises after closing.
Handoff & Move Out
On the day of closing—or shortly thereafter—one of the final and most symbolic steps in the home selling process is handing over possession of the property to the buyer. This involves physically transferring the keys to the home, as well as any other access devices such as garage door openers, security system codes or remotes, gate openers, mailbox keys, and even manuals for appliances or home systems. Providing these items is essential, as they ensure the buyer can take immediate and full control of their new property without any access issues.
In addition to handing over keys, the seller is typically required to have vacated the property by the date specified in the purchase agreement or contract. This move-out date may coincide with the closing date or could be set for a later time if the parties agree to a rent-back or possession agreement. It’s important that the seller leaves the home in the condition agreed upon in the contract—generally clean and free of personal belongings unless otherwise negotiated. If the seller remains in the home beyond the agreed move-out date without permission, it could result in legal complications or penalties.
Clear communication and coordination around the timing of move-out and possession transfer are critical to avoid confusion or disputes. Once the keys and access devices are handed over and the seller has moved out, the buyer officially takes possession and ownership of the home, marking the completion of the transaction and the beginning of their new chapter in the property.