Once an offer is accepted, the transaction moves through a series of deadlines, reviews, and decisions. This guide explains the typical path for buyers and sellers so you can see what usually comes next and where your attention may be needed.
Every transaction is different. Your signed contract, escrow instructions, lender requirements, and the facts of the property control the actual dates and obligations. Use this page as a roadmap—not as a replacement for updates about your specific transaction.
The fastest way to stay on track is to use the instructions and deadlines provided for your own transaction. If a date, document, request, or wire instruction looks unfamiliar, stop and confirm it through a trusted phone number or contact you already know.
Marchena Home Team can explain the real-estate process and help coordinate the next steps within our role. Lenders, appraisers, inspectors, escrow, title, insurance providers, and other professionals make their own decisions and are responsible for their own work.
After the contract is accepted, escrow is opened and the parties begin working through the dates and responsibilities in the agreement. You may receive instructions about an earnest-money deposit, disclosures, inspections, financing, and other early steps.
What to do: Review each request promptly. Confirm deposit and wire instructions using a verified contact method before sending money.
You’ll receive documents that may describe the property, known conditions, title matters, homeowners-association information, natural-hazard information, and other items that apply to the sale.
What to do: Read the documents carefully, keep your questions together, and ask for clarification before a contractual deadline passes.
Buyers typically have an opportunity to investigate the property under the terms of the contract. The inspections or specialists that make sense will depend on the home, location, disclosures, and your concerns.
What to do: Attend inspections when practical, review the findings, and discuss any follow-up investigation or contractual decision with the appropriate professionals.
If you’re using financing, your lender continues reviewing your application, documents, property eligibility, and loan conditions. The lender generally orders the appraisal when one is required. The appraiser develops an independent opinion of value; Marchena Home Team does not control the value or the lender’s underwriting decision.
What to do: Respond quickly to your lender, avoid opening new credit or making major financial changes without speaking with the lender, and review the appraisal outcome with the appropriate professionals if a concern appears.
Learn what buyers and sellers should know about the appraisal.
Escrow and title work continues while you arrange homeowners insurance and address any remaining lender or transaction requirements. Questions can surface at different times, so prompt communication matters.
What to do: Use known contact information, protect personal and financial information, and verify unexpected requests before acting.
Inspection, appraisal, loan, disclosure, and other contingency decisions depend on the contract and the facts of the transaction. A milestone appearing on a general timeline does not mean a contingency has been removed or a requirement has been satisfied.
What to do: Review your actual options and deadlines with your real-estate and lending professionals before signing or approving a decision.
Before closing, buyers commonly complete a final walkthrough and sign final documents. The walkthrough is a chance to observe the property’s condition near closing; it is not a new inspection contingency unless the contract provides otherwise.
What to do: Confirm the walkthrough, signing, funds, possession, and key-delivery plan through trusted transaction contacts.
Signing documents does not always mean the transaction has closed. Funding, recording, possession, and key delivery follow the contract and the instructions of the parties handling the closing.
What to do: Wait for verified confirmation before assuming the property has recorded or taking possession.
Keep copies of your final documents, confirm where future loan or tax communications should come from, and update utilities, mailing information, access codes, and insurance as appropriate.
Explore the complete home-buying guide for help from planning through homeownership.
Once you accept an offer, escrow opens and the agreement establishes the transaction’s initial responsibilities and deadlines. The buyer’s financing, investigations, and contingencies begin moving alongside your disclosure and property-access obligations.
What to do: Review the accepted terms and calendar, then keep important documents and communication easy to find.
Sellers may need to complete disclosures and provide available property, ownership, association, repair, or other transaction information. What is required depends on the property and transaction.
What to do: Answer carefully and completely based on what you know. Ask for guidance rather than guessing when a question is unclear.
The buyer may schedule inspections or other investigations allowed by the contract. Additional access may be requested for specialists, the appraiser, or other authorized parties.
What to do: Keep the property reasonably accessible and presentable, secure valuables and personal information, and route scheduling questions through the established transaction contacts.
Inspection findings or other information may lead to questions, requests, credits, repairs, or no change at all. A request is not automatically an agreement.
What to do: Review the available options and consequences before agreeing to work, credits, or contract changes. Complete only what is actually agreed to and retain appropriate records.
When the buyer’s financing requires an appraisal, the lender generally orders it and the appraiser develops an independent opinion of value. A clean, accessible home and a concise list of relevant improvements can help the appraiser observe the property, but the seller and agents do not control the result.
What to do: Confirm access, address obvious presentation issues, and gather useful improvement information without trying to direct the appraiser’s independent conclusion.
Read the appraisal preparation guide.
Escrow and title continue gathering documents and information needed for closing. Loan payoffs, liens, ownership questions, signatures, or other conditions may require attention.
What to do: Respond through verified contacts and question any unexpected request for sensitive information or money.
The property should be left in the condition required by the agreement. The buyer will commonly complete a final walkthrough near closing.
What to do: Follow the agreed repair and property-condition terms, remove belongings as required, and confirm the plan for keys, access devices, utilities, and possession.
Signing is an important step, but the transaction is complete only after the required closing events occur. Recording, possession, and release of proceeds follow the contract and verified escrow instructions.
What to do: Do not rely on an unfamiliar email or message for wiring or proceeds instructions. Confirm changes through a trusted phone number.
Keep final documents and confirm any remaining property, utility, insurance, mailing, or tax-related follow-up. If a post-closing issue appears, contact the appropriate professional using verified information.
There is no single timeline for every sale. The contract, financing, property, negotiations, and the work of escrow, title, and other professionals all affect the schedule. Use the dates in your own transaction rather than a general online estimate.
Your signed contract and the updates provided by your transaction professionals—not this public roadmap—govern your actual deadlines. If two dates appear to conflict, ask before relying on either one.
Pause and verify it through a trusted contact method. Do not send personal information, signatures, or money based only on an unexpected email, text, attachment, or link.
The available options depend on the contract, timing, facts, and the professionals involved. A problem does not produce the same result in every transaction. Review the specific issue and your available choices before acting.
The timing follows the contract and verified closing instructions. Signing documents alone may not mean that funding, recording, possession, key delivery, or release of proceeds has occurred.
If you’re working with Marchena Home Team and you’re unsure about a deadline, document, request, or next step, contact us using the phone number or contact page you already know. We’ll help clarify the real-estate process and connect you with the appropriate transaction professional when the answer belongs elsewhere.
Michael and Anita Marchena are a husband-and-wife team based in Temecula. They work with buyers and sellers across the Temecula Valley, and handle both the real estate and the home-loan side of a move under one roof.
