What a broker actually does after the offer is accepted
The unglamorous half of the transaction, from contract to keys.
Most of the visible work happens before the offer. Most of the risk shows up afterwards, during the six to ten weeks between an accepted offer and a closing date.
Contract to clear-to-close
Off-market inventory behaves differently from the public market. Because these properties are never advertised on the MLS or the major portals, pricing is negotiated between a much smaller group of motivated parties, and the timeline is usually driven by the seller rather than by the market.
- Fewer competing offers on the same property
- More flexibility on closing dates and contingencies
- Direct access to the listing agent instead of a call center
Deals rarely fall apart at the offer. They fall apart during due diligence.
LavaZoo Market Desk
The final walkthrough
Before you commit, compare the asking price with recent closed sales in the same building or on the same block, check the taxes and common charges, and ask how long the property has been quietly shopped. A listing that has been circulating privately for months is a very different negotiation from one that came to market last week.
- Get pre-approved so you can move quickly
- Ask the listing agent for the last three comparable sales
- Confirm what is included in the sale before signing
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