What Happens Between Purchase and Sale and Closing in Massachusetts
Signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement is a major milestone, but there are still several things to coordinate before closing day. During this stage, buyers typically focus on completing financing requirements, arranging homeowners insurance, planning their move, and preparing for the final walkthrough. We help keep those pieces organized so you understand what needs to happen and when.
In Part 8 of our Home Buyer Onboarding Series, Tom Matthews and Joanne Taranto explain what buyers can expect between signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement and closing, including scheduled property visits, homeowners insurance, mortgage commitment, and moving preparations.
Your Agreement Sets the Timeline
The time between signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement and closing varies by transaction. Your agreement establishes the closing date and other important deadlines.
If you have not already reviewed this stage, our guide to what to expect when signing a Purchase and Sale Agreement in Massachusetts explains the contract, attorney review, and deposit process.
Once the agreement is signed, we help coordinate the remaining steps with you, your attorney, your lender, and the seller’s agent.
Plan Any Additional Property Visits
Buyers often want to return to the home before closing to measure rooms, plan furniture placement, or show the property to family members.
Those visits need to be coordinated. The home still belongs to the seller, who may be living there and preparing to move.
Your agreement may address access to the property, including visits for the appraisal, the final walkthrough, and other purposes. The number and timing of visits depend on the agreed terms.
In our video, we discuss a common arrangement involving three visits. That is an example, rather than a rule for every Massachusetts purchase.
Tell us what you would like to accomplish, and we will help arrange an appropriate visit with the seller’s agent.
Make Your Visit Useful
A little preparation can help you get more out of your time at the property.
Bring a tape measure and a list of the information you need. You might want to check:
Room dimensions and furniture placement
Window sizes for curtains or shades
Doorways and stairways for moving larger pieces
Spaces for furniture you already own
Details needed to obtain estimates for future work
If the seller offers furniture or other belongings for sale, discuss those arrangements with us before making commitments. Any separate purchase should be clearly documented and coordinated with your attorney and lender when appropriate.
Our earlier guide to what to look for when touring a home in Massachusetts can also help you organize property questions.
Arrange Homeowners Insurance Early
Homeowners insurance is something to work on well before closing.
If you are getting a mortgage, your lender will explain the coverage and documentation required. Coordinate the policy’s effective date with your insurer and the closing team.
Your current insurance agent can be a useful starting point, and comparing quotes can help you understand differences in coverage, deductibles, and price. Bundling home and auto insurance may offer a discount, but compare the complete proposals rather than assuming one arrangement is always best.
Ask your insurer and lender how the initial premium will be paid and whether insurance reserves will be collected at closing. Those amounts should be included in your planning for the funds you will need.
We can provide introductions to insurance professionals if you need help getting started.
Stay Responsive to Your Lender
While you are planning the move, your lender may still be reviewing documents, coordinating the appraisal, and completing underwriting.
Respond promptly when your loan officer requests information. Sometimes updated statements or additional explanations are needed even when you have already supplied similar documents.
Keep your lender informed about changes that could affect your application, and ask before making financial decisions that might affect approval.
If an appraisal or financing question arises, let our team and your attorney know promptly so it can be addressed within the transaction’s deadlines.
Understand Your Mortgage Commitment
A mortgage commitment is an important milestone, but it may still contain conditions that need to be satisfied before closing.
Read it carefully with your lender and ask what remains outstanding. Do not assume that receiving a commitment means every financing requirement has been completed.
Your attorney can explain how the commitment relates to your financing contingency and contractual deadlines. We help keep communication moving among the people involved.
Begin Organizing Your Move
This is also the time to compare moving companies, sort belongings, and plan the practical details of relocating.
We can recommend movers and organizing professionals. An organizer can be particularly helpful if you have lived in your current home for many years and need support deciding what to keep, donate, or move.
Check availability early, especially during busy moving periods. Coordinate firm arrangements with your expected closing and possession dates, and understand cancellation or rescheduling terms.
Before scheduling deliveries or work at the new home, confirm when you will actually have access.
Prepare for Closing Costs and Documents
As closing approaches, your lender and closing attorney will explain the funds and documents you need.
For most purchase mortgages, you must receive a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. Review the loan terms, estimated monthly payment, closing costs, and cash needed to close. Ask your lender or attorney about anything you do not understand.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Closing Disclosure guide explains how to review this document.
Follow the closing attorney’s instructions for delivering funds, and verify transfer instructions directly using a trusted phone number before sending money.
Buying in Concord and MetroWest
Moving into a Concord or MetroWest home may involve planning around an older property, different heating systems, septic systems, or other features that are unfamiliar to you.
Use this period to gather the information you will need for ownership, including maintenance contacts and questions to discuss during the final walkthrough.
Our Buying a Home in Concord, Massachusetts resource provides more local context.
Next Comes the Final Walkthrough and Closing
The final walkthrough and closing are the next major steps. Our next video explains what those events look like and how we help buyers prepare.
For an overview of the full process, revisit our Home Buying Process in Massachusetts: A Buyer’s Roadmap, or explore the complete Buyer’s Guide.
Ready to Plan Your Home Purchase?
If you are considering buying in Concord or the surrounding MetroWest communities, we would be happy to talk about your search and explain how we guide buyers from the first conversation through closing.
Call 781.795.0502, email info@tomandjoanneteam.com, or contact the Tom and Joanne Team.