What happens after I accept an offer?

Accepting an offer is a milestone, not the finish line. What happens next depends on the terms you agreed and on where the property is.

Conditions are worked through

If the offer carries conditions, the buyer works through them — financing, an inspection, a document review — inside the period you agreed. Until those are satisfied or waived, the sale is not firm.

Your professionals prepare for closing

Depending on your province and your transaction, lawyers, notaries, lenders and brokerages all become involved. Get your lawyer or notary engaged early rather than in the final week.

You prepare the property

Before possession you may need to:

Complete any repairs you agreed to
Remove your belongings
Arrange movers
Cancel or transfer services
Gather keys, remotes and access codes
Leave behind everything the contract says stays
Clean the property

Confirm what you will actually receive Estimate your net proceeds after commission, legal fees, mortgage payout and any penalties, so the closing statement holds no surprises. Estimate my net proceeds

Financial adjustments are completed

Your closing professionals calculate the amounts required to complete, including any adjustments and your mortgage payout. This is when your estimated net proceeds becomes a real figure.

Closing

Once the legal and financial requirements are met, ownership transfers according to the terms of your transaction. Then comes the last step, which sellers consistently report as more emotional than they expected: handing over the keys.

Your agent and your lawyer or notary can explain exactly what applies in your province and in your transaction.

More seller guides

Should I buy first or sell first? — The trade-offs of coordinating two transactions, and what to know before you commit to either.
What is my home worth? — How home valuations work, why two estimates can disagree, and which factors move your value most.
How can I increase my home's value before selling? — How to find high-return improvements, quick wins, and the projects that are not worth doing before you sell.
Should I renovate before selling my home? — Kitchen, bathroom, paint, or nothing at all? How to weigh renovation cost against the selling benefit.

Explore

Sell

Company

For professionals

Legal

Communities.ca Inc.
Stuart Hall, REALTOR® · Licence #LIC-00651009 · Century 21 Bravo

Data from MLS® System. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate by CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are certification marks that are owned by REALTOR® Canada Inc. and licensed exclusively to The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). These certification marks identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA and who must abide by CREA’s By-Laws, Rules, and the REALTOR® Code.