It may be a fantastic feeling if you’ve lastly discovered that dream house and made a suggestion that received accepted. You might have been trying to find some time (and perhaps even missed out on a couple of homes), so the sense of pleasure and reduction is palpable if you lastly get that provide accepted. However what occurs after a suggestion is accepted on a home?
Right here, we’ll take you thru that course of to ensure getting a suggestion accepted means shifting into that dream house.
What occurs after your provide is accepted?

You’ve had your provide accepted — congratulations. This implies the home is formally “underneath contract,” and also you’ve entered right into a legally binding settlement. The home hunt is over, and now you can proceed with the following steps within the mortgage course of.
Have a good time briefly, however then be able to get to work on ensuring the deal will get executed. One of many greatest hurdles has been cleared, however there are fairly a couple of extra steps between now and the time limit.
In case your provide was accepted, it most definitely signifies that the lender might have already preapproved you for a mortgage. Meaning you’ve gotten a lender’s preliminary approval on estimated mortgage charges and phrases. A mortgage preapproval can enhance a purchaser’s odds of getting their provide on a home accepted, because it makes them look extra severe and dedicated to the house buy.
As soon as the provide is accepted, attain out to your actual property agent or REALTOR® instantly so you may make your dream house yours.
10 steps to take after having your provide accepted
As soon as your house provide is accepted, there are some key steps you should take to consummate the deal. Let’s take an in-depth take a look at every one beneath.
1. Deposit earnest cash
The primary motion that follows an accepted provide is depositing your earnest cash. That is the money (often 1% – 3% of the acquisition value) you deposit into your purchaser agent dealer’s account to point out the vendor you’re severe about getting the deal executed. This crucial step in home-buying advantages each purchaser and vendor.
For the vendor, having each the earnest cash deposit (EMD) and the mortgage preapproval letter out of your lender will show you could afford to purchase the house.
Inside 24 to 48 hours of your provide being accepted, ship that EMD to your actual property agent’s dealer. They’ll maintain it of their escrow account till closing. When you get to the closing desk, that cash will come again to you so you may full the acquisition of the house.
Understand that you may lose your EMD if you’re discovered to be in breach of the contract, so take note of all of the high-quality print. Your actual property agent and lender can assist clarify all of the parameters round your EMD and how one can be sure you don’t lose it.
2. Schedule property inspections
Dwelling inspections are a crucial a part of shifting the home-buying course of alongside and function a fantastic safety for consumers. As the customer, it’s best to rent a house inspector to return take a look at the house to ensure there aren’t any main defects that want repairing before you purchase the house. A basic inspector will take a look at the HVAC, roof, and structural integrity and discover different noticeable repairs that must be accomplished.
Typically they may let you realize if a extra specialised inspector wants to take a look at a particular a part of the home. For instance, they might inform you the chimney wants some restore however encourage you to rent a chimney knowledgeable to suggest what particularly must be executed.
You might also wish to rent a drain inspector who will put a digicam down the sewage drain to ensure it’s working correctly. This may be an costly restore, so understanding about it forward of time and presumably asking the vendor to pay for it’s important.
Different inspections may embrace a radon inspection within the basement to ensure there are protected ranges of that gasoline, in addition to a pest inspection for issues like termites that eat away at wooden.
3. Submit all mortgage lender paperwork
You might have already submitted a couple of paperwork to your lender for them to preapprove you for a mortgage. For a full mortgage utility, they may ask for extra. This can embrace financial institution statements, private revenue tax returns, pay stubs, and different paperwork to finish the underwriting course of.
Make sure to submit paperwork to your lender as quickly as they ask for them. Getting your mortgage authorised requires a group of execs on the mortgage firm working collectively. For those who maintain up the method, you won’t be capable to shut on the house on time.
4. Conduct an appraisal
The house appraisal is a crucial element of your remaining mortgage approval. Your lender wants to ensure the house is definitely worth the sum of money they’re lending you to purchase it. To realize this, they ship an appraiser to the house to find out what it’s value. If the appraiser says the house is definitely worth the quantity you’re paying for it (or extra), issues transfer alongside easily. If the appraiser says the house is value lower than what you’ve gotten agreed to pay, issues get somewhat difficult.
You may must provide you with additional money to cowl the distinction between the appraised worth and the quantity you agreed to pay. Or, you may ask the vendor to scale back the gross sales value primarily based on the low appraisal.
5. Evaluation your title
Once you obtain your new home title, make sure you look over it rigorously. The title is the authorized doc that particulars specifics in regards to the property, together with who owns it. The crucial factor to search for is that if there are any claims on the title that would have an effect on the acquisition of the property.
For instance, if there’s a earlier mortgage on the house that former homeowners didn’t pay, that mortgage firm might have a declare on the title. The title firm ought to be capable to seek for these sorts of discrepancies and guarantee your title is sweet to go (also referred to as a clear title).
6. Switch all utilities
A house isn’t a lot use with out utilities. In any case, for those who transfer in solely to seek out there isn’t a warmth or electrical energy, your new dream house will shortly flip right into a nightmare. For those who’re the customer, you will want to name the native utility firm and ensure they modify the title on the account for that house from the vendor’s to yours. The vendor will take their title off the account on closing day, so if yours isn’t on it, then out go the lights.
7. Take out a home-owner’s insurance coverage coverage
You’re required to take out a owners insurance coverage coverage earlier than finalizing the acquisition of the house. There are a selection of firms to select from, so go browsing and perform a little research to see which one is best for you.
Fundamental protection consists of dwelling insurance coverage, which covers the construction of your house within the occasion that it will get broken or destroyed by an occasion that’s coated. Past that, you may add on quite a few different supplemental insurances like flood insurance coverage, private property theft substitute, pool insurance coverage, and lots of extra.
8. Schedule house repairs
In case your inspection uncovers some crucial repairs, you’ve gotten a couple of other ways you may method it. One possibility is to ask the vendor to have the repairs executed by a licensed contractor earlier than closing. That is an particularly good possibility if the repairs need to do with a security situation, like a gasoline leak.
If the restore will not be pressing, you may have the vendor pay for and schedule the work to be accomplished after the closing. You may as well have the vendor credit score you some cash towards your closing prices. You possibly can then use that cash to make the repairs after you progress in, however you aren’t required to make use of it for that.
9. Conduct a remaining walkthrough
Proper earlier than the closing, you and your actual property agent ought to do a remaining walkthrough of the home. This isn’t like an inspection, the place you’re looking at each nook and cranny of the home to see what’s improper.
It’s extra of a formality simply to ensure every little thing is as you bear in mind it from the inspection. That is additionally a possibility to take a look at any repairs that had been made by the vendor in the event that they agreed to a few of your inspection requests.
10. Schedule your closing
The ultimate step is to schedule the closing on your house. The aim of the closing course of is to finalize the sale by reviewing and signing all the required documentation. The vendor, purchaser, their actual property brokers, and the title firm consultant all often attend the closing.
Ensure you ask your actual property agent what you should convey to the closing. It’s possible you’ll want your driver’s license and a examine to your down fee on the house. Your lender will often wire the remainder of the cash for the home (the mortgage quantity). As soon as all of the paperwork are signed, you get the keys and may transfer in.
| Step | Job | Standing |
| 1. Deposit earnest cash | Submit your earnest cash deposit (EMD) to your actual property agent’s dealer inside 24-48 hours of acceptance. | ☐ |
| 2. Schedule property inspections | Rent an inspector to examine for main defects, and take into account specialised inspections (radon, pest, and so forth.). | ☐ |
| 3. Submit all mortgage paperwork | Present your lender with all crucial paperwork for the underwriting course of to keep away from delays. | ☐ |
| 4. Conduct an appraisal | Your lender will rent an appraiser to find out the house’s worth. | ☐ |
| 5. Evaluation your title | Rigorously examine the title for any claims or discrepancies. | ☐ |
| 6. Switch all utilities | Contact native utility firms to switch companies to your title on the time limit. | ☐ |
| 7. Take out owners insurance coverage | Analysis and safe a owners insurance coverage coverage earlier than closing. | ☐ |
| 8. Schedule house repairs | Negotiate with the vendor to have crucial repairs executed, or obtain a credit score for them. | ☐ |
| 9. Conduct a remaining walkthrough | Stroll by the property to make sure it’s within the agreed-upon situation earlier than closing. | ☐ |
| 10. Schedule your closing | Finalize the time limit and produce all required paperwork to signal the ultimate paperwork. | ☐ |
Backside line: What occurs after a suggestion will get accepted
The acceptance of a suggestion is a momentous event, however it’s just the start of the journey to homeownership. By diligently following these ten crucial steps, from depositing your earnest cash to conducting a remaining walkthrough, you may navigate the advanced interval between contract and shutting with confidence. Every step is an important constructing block towards finalizing the deal, guaranteeing that the dream house you secured along with your provide turns into the fact you step into on closing day.
Incessantly requested questions
How lengthy does it take to shut on a home after the provide is accepted?
Sometimes, it takes 30 to 60 days to shut on a home after your provide is accepted. Nonetheless, this may be shorter or longer relying on a number of issues:
- Financing: The kind of mortgage you get can have an effect on the timeline.
- Professionals: How shortly your lender and title firm work makes a giant distinction.
- Issues: Sudden points with the house or title may cause delays.
For those who make a money provide, you may typically negotiate a a lot faster closing because you’re not ready for a mortgage to be authorised.
Throughout this time, the title firm will conduct a radical search to make sure there aren’t any authorized points or liens on the property. It is a essential step to guard you as the customer.
A remaining, however essential, tip: keep away from making any massive purchases throughout this era. New loans or bank card debt can negatively affect your credit score rating and jeopardize your capability to shut on the home.
Tips on how to put a suggestion on a home?
Once you’re able to make a suggestion, you’ll work along with your actual property agent to draft a written provide. This doc will embrace the acquisition value, earnest cash, and any contingencies.
To show you’re a severe purchaser, it’s best to embrace a pre-approval letter out of your lender. If it’s a money provide, you may present a financial institution assertion to point out you’ve gotten the required funds.
As soon as drafted, your agent will submit the provide to the vendor or their agent, who can then settle for, reject, or counter it. Understand that every state has particular types for various property varieties, which your agent will use to create the official provide.

