Contract-to-Close Checklist for Real Estate Agents

Once your offer is accepted, your job shifts from selling to coordinating. Dozens of deadlines and hand-offs now have to happen in order, and you’re the person keeping the buyer, seller, lender, and title company aligned. Here’s the checklist experienced agents run for every transaction.

Immediately after acceptance

• Confirm the fully executed contract and record the effective date.
• Calculate and calendar every deadline from the effective date.
• Send the contract to the title/escrow company and open the file.
• Confirm earnest money is delivered and receipted on time.
• Introduce all parties (lender, title, co-op agent) and share key dates.

During the contingency period

• Schedule inspections; track the inspection deadline closely.
• Negotiate any repair requests or credits before the deadline.
• Confirm the buyer applied for financing and the appraisal is ordered.
• Watch the financing/loan-commitment deadline and request extensions early if needed.
• Follow the title search and resolve any title issues.

Approaching closing

• Confirm homeowners insurance is bound and sent to the lender.
• Track “clear to close” and the Closing Disclosure (3-business-day rule for buyers).
• Coordinate the final walkthrough 24–48 hours out.
• Verify wiring instructions with the title company to prevent fraud.
• Confirm the closing time, location, and what each party needs to bring.

Where deals actually fall apart

Most blown deals trace back to a missed or mis-counted deadline, a financing surprise, a low appraisal, or a title issue found late. The common thread is timing — the earlier a problem surfaces, the more room there is to fix it. That’s why the agents who close reliably are the ones who track every date instead of trusting memory.