🛠️ Step-by-Step: What Happens After Offer Acceptance

1. Get That Earnest Money In

Time to show you’re serious! You'll need to deposit your earnest money with the listing brokerage or the title company that the sellers have chosen. You have 2 business days to do this. If Chicago Title is holding the earnest money for your transaction. Click Here to see all the ways you could deposit your EM. If you write a check please make sure to put the address of the home your buying in the memo section.

2. Schedule the Home Inspection 🕵️
Now it’s time to hire a professional inspector. They'll check everything from the roof to the crawl space. Think of it as a “home health check-up.” If something comes up, don’t panic—it’s totally normal. We have 7-10 days to get your inspection done. If you need any help getting this set up please let me know but below are a list of our preferred home inspectors:

Hawk Home Inspection 219-730-5463

United Home Inspection 219-595-9580

3. Repairs & Negotiations 🔧
If your inspection revealed any issues, now's the time to negotiate repairs or credits with the seller. I as your agent will handle all of this for you. Our primary goal is to have significant issues addressed as well as safety related items and anything your lender might require if you have an FHA loan.

4. Title Work📃

Myself and the other agent will immediately open escrow and order title work at the chosen title company. What that means is a file of our transaction gets created and the title company will search records to make sure the seller can sell the house, and you won’t get sued by buying it. Then they issue an insurance policy for the current owner and you (as required for your loan). You will receive important communication from the title company including wiring instructions for your down payment.

4. Finalize Your Loan Application 💰
I will make sure your lender has everything they need to start your mortgage approval. In the meantime they may reach out requesting additional financial documents from you, be ready to respond quickly—they love a punctual borrower that wants to keep things moving quickly!

6. Home Appraisal Gets Ordered 🏡
Your lender will order an appraisal to make sure the home's value lines up with the loan. This is their way of just making sure you are not overpaying for your home. If you are using an FHA loan the appraiser might request additional things get fixed as a condition of your loan.

7. Final Loan Approval – AKA “Clear to Close!” ✅
Once your lender gives the all-clear, it's go time! This means the underwriter has reviewed everything and you’re ready to close. You will receive a final closing disclosure (often called a master statement) This will itemize every cost associated with your closing. It will also have the exact amount of money that will need to be wired for your down payment.

8. Final Walkthrough 👀
Right before closing we will do a quick check to make sure the home is still standing and in the same condition if not better than when you made the offer. This is also the time to make sure all your utilities are on.

9. Closing Day – Sign, Smile, and Celebrate! 🖊️🥂
You'll sign a small tree’s worth of paperwork, get the keys, and officially become a homeowner. Break out the champagne!