Most sellers feel a wave of relief when an offer is accepted. That is reasonable — it means the most visible work is done. What sellers do not always see is what happens in the 30 to 60 days that follow. Inspection, the Purchase and Sale Agreement, appraisal, mortgage commitment, final walkthrough, deed preparation, the closing itself — each step has its own deadlines and its own moments where attentive coordination keeps everything on track.
We don't step back when the offer is accepted. We step in. The post-acceptance period is where experience with approaching 2,000 sales in Massachusetts and New Hampshire pays the most — because we've seen every version of what can go wrong, and we know how to handle each one before it becomes a crisis.
Our job is to get you to the closing table with the sale intact and the proceeds you agreed to. We stay in it until the deed records.
In Massachusetts, a typical closing timeline from accepted offer to funded deed runs 30 to 45 days. Here is what happens in that window.
In Massachusetts, the closing attorney typically represents the lender — but you need your own attorney reviewing the Purchase and Sale Agreement and protecting your interests. We help you understand the attorney's role and what you should expect them to do on your behalf. Title work begins immediately to surface any liens, easements, or title issues early.
The buyer's inspector will spend two to four hours in the home. We prepare you for what to expect and debrief immediately after the report is shared. Our strategy for responding to inspection findings — what to repair, what to credit, what to decline — is calibrated to your specific situation, not to a default script.
The Purchase and Sale Agreement is the legally binding contract that supersedes the initial offer. It specifies the final agreed price, terms, contingency deadlines, and conditions of sale. We review every line with you before you sign. Changes negotiated after the accepted offer are memorialized here — nothing is assumed.
The buyer's lender orders an independent appraisal. If the home appraises at or above the purchase price, the process continues. If it appraises below, we navigate the response — challenging with comparable data when warranted, renegotiating with the buyer, or helping the buyer bridge the gap. We've managed this scenario across different market conditions and know which path to recommend.
This is the deadline by which the buyer must have a written mortgage commitment from their lender. Delays here are common — underwriting takes longer than expected, documentation is missing, rates change and buyers reconsider. We track this deadline carefully and follow up with the buyer's agent proactively, not reactively.
The buyer has the right to walk through the home, typically within 24 hours of closing, to confirm its condition matches what was agreed. We prepare you for what the walkthrough should and should not cover, and we're available if any last-minute issues arise.
In Massachusetts, the closing happens at the closing attorney's office. You sign the deed, the buyer signs their loan documents, proceeds are distributed, and the deed records. We review your closing disclosure with you before the table so there are no surprises in the numbers. When the deed records, the sale is complete.
Active coordination — not passive waiting — is what keeps your close calm, confident, and on schedule.
Massachusetts real estate closings operate under attorney control — the closing attorney manages the escrow, title search, deed preparation, and fund disbursement. The buyer's lender typically selects the closing attorney, which means you are not the attorney's primary client. This makes your own legal representation — and an agent who understands the process — essential, not optional.
In New Hampshire, the closing process is similar but distinct. Title companies play a larger role. The Purchase and Sale Agreement and the initial offer are often combined into a single document. Seller transfer tax obligations differ. If you are selling a home in one state while buying in another — a common scenario for our sellers moving between the North Shore of Massachusetts and southern NH towns like Windham, Salem, or Londonderry — the coordination of two different closing processes, two attorneys, and two sets of deadlines requires the kind of oversight that only comes with having done it many times.
We've closed in both states, across hundreds of transactions, and we coordinate across the border when necessary. For sellers navigating that particular transition, it is one of the most tangible advantages of working with a team that is genuinely active in both markets.
Tell us where you are in the process. Whether you have an accepted offer, are about to list, or are just beginning to think about selling — we'll walk you through what to expect and how we handle it.
— Lisa Sevajian
lisa.sevajian@exprealty.com · 978-457-3406
Top 1.5% of over 1,400,000 Realtors · Brokered by eXp Realty