Every task from acceptance to recording — 41 of them, in order, each with the deadline rule it runs on. Built for the Arkansas REALTORS Real Estate Contract (Residential). Free, no email required.
State
Arkansas
30 states live — each one built on that state's own contract and deadline rules, not a renamed copy of this one.
Put your closing date in and get the real dates
Most checklists tell you "3 days before closing" and leave you to count. This one counts — business days, federal holidays, and the observed weekday when a holiday lands on a weekend.
Contract date
mm/dd/yyyy
Closing date
mm/dd/yyyy
41 tasks across 6 phases
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● Send executed contract to title company + lender
Distribute the accepted Real Estate Contract and all addenda. Note the ACCEPTANCE DATE — the inspection and loan-application clocks both run from it, in BUSINESS days.
Buyer's agent
1 day after the contract date
● Open file with title company
Title / escrow
2 business days after the contract date
● Deliver earnest money
Per the Earnest Money Addendum (¶7). Separate from any Non-Refundable Deposit.
Buyer
On the earnest money due date
● Non-Refundable Deposit — confirm terms before it is paid
ARA ¶8: this is NOT earnest money. It goes to the SELLER, the form says it is not to be held by either firm and may be commingled with the seller's own funds, and it is refundable only if the failure to close is exclusively the seller's fault. Confirm the buyer understands that before it leaves their account.
Buyer's agent
3 days after the contract date
Confirm earnest money received
Buyer's agent
1 business day after the earnest money due date
● Buyer makes complete loan application (5 business days)
ARA ¶6: a complete application for the new loan or assumption within FIVE BUSINESS DAYS of the acceptance date. Failing to do so may constitute a breach of the contract.
Buyer
5 business days after the contract date
Confirm utilities on for inspection
ARA ¶16 puts this on the seller — utilities connected and on so the buyer can inspect and re-inspect.
Listing agent
3 days after the contract date
● Schedule inspection
Buyer's agent
5 days before the inspection deadline
● Complete inspection + review report
Inspector
2 days before the inspection deadline
Review Seller's Property Disclosure
Buyer's agent
1 day before the inspection deadline
● Inspection period ends (10 business days)
ARA ¶16: the buyer has TEN BUSINESS DAYS from acceptance to inspect the Inspection Items.
Buyer
On the inspection deadline
Order survey
ARA ¶11: a new survey must be certified to the buyer within 30 days prior to closing. Declining it waives the legal benefit of a survey certified in the buyer's name.
Buyer's agent
30 days before closing
● Deliver Inspection, Repair & Survey Addendum
The repair request runs on the Inspection, Repair & Survey Addendum. If a Non-Refundable Deposit is tied to it, the deposit falls due within 3 business days of agreement on repairs.
Buyer's agent
1 day after the inspection deadline
Lender orders appraisal
Lender
7 days after the contract date
● Appraisal received + reviewed
Appraiser
On the appraisal deadline
● Loan approval deadline
Lender
On the loan contingency deadline
● Confirm clear to close from lender
Lender
3 business days before closing
Title commitment / prelim received
Title company issues the commitment / preliminary report.
Title / escrow
7 business days after the contract date
Request HOA documents + dues figures
Buyer's agent
10 days after the contract date
● Confirm mineral rights position
ARA ¶9 conveys ALL mineral rights owned by the seller unless expressly reserved, and puts the burden of investigating them on the buyer. Confirm what is being conveyed or reserved before closing.
Title / escrow
14 days after the contract date
● Receive + review title work
ARA ¶10: the seller furnishes an owner's policy in the amount of the purchase price, at the seller's cost.
Title / escrow
14 days after the contract date
Title review complete (Schedule B exceptions cleared)
Review the commitment; clear or resolve Schedule B exceptions.
Title / escrow
12 business days after the contract date
Payoffs / HOA demand received
Loan payoff(s) and HOA demand/estoppel received by escrow.
Title / escrow
7 business days before closing
Order home warranty
Buyer's agent
7 days before closing
CPL issued to lender
Closing Protection Letter issued to the lender.
Title / escrow
5 business days before closing
Bind homeowner's insurance
Buyer
5 days before closing
Confirm closing figures with title company
Title / escrow
5 days before closing
● Review Closing Disclosure (3-day rule)
Lender
3 business days before closing
Closing statement prepared & balanced
CD (financed) or ALTA settlement statement (cash) prepared and balanced.
Title / escrow
4 business days before closing
Clear to close received
Lender issues clear-to-close.
Lender
3 business days before closing
CD delivered (TRID 3-day clock started)
Closing Disclosure delivered to buyer — starts the TRID 3-business-day clock.
Title / escrow
3 business days before closing
Signing scheduled (notary / RON / in-office)
Closing appointment scheduled.
Title / escrow
2 business days before closing
● Final walk-through
Buyer's agent
1 day before closing
● Closing — sign + fund
Title / escrow
On closing
Funded (wire received & confirmed)
Funds wired and confirmed received by escrow.
Title / escrow
On closing
Confirm deed recorded
Title / escrow
1 business day after closing
Recorded (county confirmation)
Deed / mortgage recorded — county e-recording confirmation received.
Title / escrow
1 business day after closing
Deliver keys + possession
Buyer's agent
1 day after closing
Send closing documents to buyer
Buyer's agent
2 days after closing
Disbursed / policy issued / file closed
Proceeds disbursed, title policy issued, escrow file closed.
These are real statutory deadlines and they change. If something here is wrong or out of date, we'd genuinely rather hear it.
Not in Arkansas?
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This checklist is a working aid, not legal advice, and deadlines on your file are governed by your contract. Check every date against the executed agreement.