Selling a Home Timeline: Offer Accepted to Closing Day

Accepting an offer feels like the finish line. It is really the start of the last stretch. Between a signed contract and closing day, several things have to happen in the right order, and most of them are out of your direct control.

Here is how the selling a home timeline usually plays out in Middle Tennessee, and where you can stay ahead of it.

The first days: contract, earnest money and due diligence

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Once both sides sign, the buyer’s earnest money goes into escrow and the contract dates start counting. Read those dates closely. Your contract sets the due diligence period, the closing date and any deadlines for repair requests or financing. I will not guess at your specific dates here, because they come from the contract you signed.

Due diligence is the window when the buyer investigates the home. They can inspect it, review your disclosures and decide whether to move forward, ask for repairs or step away under the terms of the contract.

Two disclosures matter on your side. Tennessee sellers complete the residential property condition disclosure (or an exemption). If the home was built before 1978, the lead-based paint disclosure applies too. Questions about which form fits your situation are worth bringing to your agent or a real estate attorney.

Inspections and repair requests

Expect the buyer to order a home inspection. Add-ons are common, including radon testing, a sewer scope and a termite inspection. Termite and wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspections are often requested by buyers and lenders in Tennessee. If radon comes up, the EPA radon information page explains what the numbers mean.

After the inspection, the buyer may send a repair request or ask for a credit. You can accept, decline or counter. This is usually the point where deals get tense, so a calm, written response helps. Your agent can walk you through the options, and a licensed contractor can give you real repair quotes.

A few practical habits help here:

• Keep the home accessible for inspectors and the appraiser.
• Gather receipts and permits for past work.
• Answer requests in writing and keep copies.

The appraisal and the buyer’s loan

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If the buyer is financing, the lender orders an appraisal. A pre-approval letter is not a final loan commitment. Final approval depends on the appraisal, underwriting and the buyer’s finances staying the same until closing. That is why a sale can still change course after the inspection period ends.

The appraisal is a separate opinion of value from the lender’s side. If it comes in below the contract price, the options usually include renegotiating, the buyer bringing more cash or, depending on the contract, ending the deal. I cannot predict how any appraisal will land.

The local numbers give some context. In the Nashville metro area, for the four weeks ending 2026-09-27, the median days on market was 68 and the sale-to-list ratio was 97.8%, according to Redfin. In Franklin, Redfin’s rolling three-month data as of 2026-08-31 shows 3.4 months of supply and an average sale-to-list ratio of 98.3%. Those are area-wide figures, and they say nothing certain about your home. You can see more on our market data for the I-65 corridor page.

Buyer financing costs also matter to a deal. Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.28% for the week of 2026-10-01 (via FRED). Rates move, and each buyer’s loan terms depend on their own lender and finances.

The final weeks: Closing Disclosure, wire safety and moving

The buyer’s lender must send the Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing. That requirement is one reason the closing date does not move easily. If the buyer’s paperwork slips, the date can slip with it.

On your side, expect to coordinate with the title company or closing attorney handling the file. Ask them for an estimate of your costs and payoff figures. Closing costs typically run 2 to 4 percent of the purchase price, and that range varies by transaction, so ask for the actual numbers on your file. The CFPB Owning a Home guides explain the closing paperwork in plain language.

Wire fraud is real. Verify wire instructions by phone using a number you already trust, and never rely on emailed wire instructions. If anything about a request looks off, stop and call.

This is also the time to plan the move:

• Request quotes from at least 3 licensed moving companies.
• Book early if you want a month-end date.
• Set up utility transfers and a forwarding address.

Our free moving checklists cover the details so nothing gets missed.

If your home is in Spring Hill, note that the city includes parts of both Williamson and Maury counties. County services, schools and taxes can differ by address, so confirm the details for your property. The Williamson County property search is one official place to check records for homes in that county.

Closing day and what comes after

Before closing, the buyer usually does a final walkthrough. Have the home empty, clean and in the condition the contract calls for, with the keys, remotes and any agreed items ready.

At closing, you sign the documents, the funds move and the deed is recorded. Recorded deeds are public records, which you can look up through the Williamson County Register of Deeds. Cancel homeowner’s insurance only after closing is confirmed. Cancelling early can leave you exposed if the closing date moves.

For questions about licensing or agent conduct in Tennessee, the Tennessee Real Estate Commission is the official source.

Planning your own timeline

Every contract is different, and so is every home. If you are thinking about selling and want to see how these steps would apply to you, you can find out what your home is worth or contact Scott to talk through the process. There is no pressure to decide anything on the first call.