After your offer is accepted in Ohio, you move through inspections, appraisal, title work, loan conditions, and a final walk-through before keys change hands. On a typical financed purchase in Coshocton or Tuscarawas County, that usually takes a few weeks — not a single afternoon.
Quick answer
Under contract is the start of the homework, not the finish line. Inspections come first, then appraisal and loan conditions, title work, a final walk-through, and closing. Keep your dates, insurance, and funds lined up so closing day is boring — in a good way.
I’m Matthias Sterzer, The German Realtor® with Kaufman Realty & Auctions. I work with buyers and sellers in Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties from West Lafayette. I’m not an auctioneer; when a purchase is at auction, I work alongside Kaufman’s auctioneers and the posted terms.
Day 1–3: what gets unlocked once you’re under contract?
The clock starts when both sides have a signed agreement and any required deposits are on the way to the right escrow holder. You’ll get a calendar: inspection deadline, any repair-request deadline, loan and appraisal dates, and the closing date. Put those on your phone. Missing a date can cost you a right you meant to keep.
The hours — and sometimes the days — after you submit an offer, while you wait for the sellers’ answer, are usually the hardest. Buyers often ask me if that’s normal. It is. That wait is part of the process, even when everything else is moving.
This is also when you call your insurance agent, stay in touch with your lender, and send the title company whatever they ask for the first time, not the fifth. If you haven’t already, lock in the difference between a pre-qualification chat and a real pre-approval.
For the bigger buying picture, use my guide to buying a home in Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties and the free Home Buyer’s Guide.
Inspections and repair talks — what buyers usually do
Most buyers hire a general home inspector, then add tests that fit the property. In town you might be on public water and sewer. Out in the county, well and septic inspections are a regular part of being thorough. Radon, pests, and a sewer scope show up when the house or the buyer calls for them.
After the report, we decide what’s a genuine concern and what’s normal wear. You can ask for repairs, ask for a credit, or proceed. The seller can say yes, no, or something in between. If the contract gives you an exit during the inspection window, walking away is sometimes the right call. No drama required.
Appraisal, title, and the lender’s checklist
If you’re financing, the lender will usually order an appraisal to confirm the property supports the loan. If the appraisal comes in below the contract price, we talk options: more cash, a renegotiation, or, in some contracts, a way to terminate. I won’t predict your appraisal. I will help you read it.
Title work looks for liens, surprises in the chain of ownership, and whether the seller can actually convey. The title company or an attorney clears issues or tells us they can’t. Meanwhile your lender will ask for updated paystubs, insurance, and explanations of anything that popped up on a statement. Answer fast. Silence is how closings slip.
What to bring and expect on closing day
Closing is usually at a title office. Bring a government-issued ID and any remaining funds in the form the title company requires — often a wire sent with care, not a last-minute surprise. Read the settlement statement before you sit down. Ask about every line you don’t understand.
Do a final walk-through before you sign, not after. You’re checking that the property is in the agreed condition, agreed items are still there, and nothing new leaked overnight.
Keys and possession follow the contract. If the seller is staying on for a few days, that’s a written arrangement, not a handshake in the parking lot.
How auction closings differ when the seller set the terms
If you buy at a real estate auction with Kaufman’s auctioneers, the seller has usually already set terms: often as-is, sometimes an absolute sale, and often no financing contingencies. You register, do your inspections in the preview window, arrange funds, and then close on the posted schedule.
- Due diligence happens before you bid, not in a long post-offer negotiation.
- A typical close after auction day is about 30 days when no new survey is needed.
- The full no-survey path is often about 60 days including marketing; a needed survey can stretch the whole process to about 90–120 days.
- Your loan can still be part of your plan, but the terms may not let you cancel if the bank says no — get that straight before you raise a paddle or click bid.
That’s a different rhythm than a negotiated listing, not a better or worse one. It just rewards buyers who prepare early.
Questions between offer and keys? Call or text 740-610-8725. I’ll keep the checklist moving. The free Home Buyer’s Guide is a good companion to this post.
Frequently asked questions
Can the deal still fall through after the offer is accepted?
Yes. Inspections, appraisal, title issues, loan conditions, or a buyer who can’t perform can still end a contract. That’s why we track dates and stay in touch with the lender and title company. An auction with seller-set terms (often no financing contingencies) changes some of those risk points, but it’s not a magic shield.
When do utilities transfer?
Usually around closing or possession, which are not always the same day. You’ll schedule your start dates with the electric, gas, water or well-related services, trash, and any propane company. I remind buyers to make those calls before closing day so they aren’t standing in a dark kitchen.
When do I get the keys?
When the transaction has closed and possession is granted under the contract — often the same day, sometimes later if there’s a rent-back or a delayed possession. Don’t assume you can start moving at 9 a.m. just because closing is on the calendar. We’ll confirm the time.
How long does a typical financed closing take in Ohio?
Many financed deals run a few weeks from accepted offer to closing, but I won’t invent a local average. Your lender, the appraisal queue, and title work set the pace. Auction closings often follow the posted schedule — about 30 days after auction day on a typical Kaufman path when no new survey is needed.
Should I get pre-approved before I make an offer?
Yes. A real pre-approval tells us what you can reasonably write and shows the seller you’re prepared. I walk through that process in how to get pre-approved for a mortgage in Coshocton.
Call or text me at 740-610-8725. If you’re under contract — or about to be — I’ll walk the inspection-to-closing calendar with you. Free Home Buyer’s Guide.
Matthias Sterzer, The German Realtor® | Kaufman Realty & Auctions
Email: matthias.sterzer@kaufmanrealty.com
Matthias Sterzer, The German Realtor®, Kaufman Realty & Auctions. Matthias is a real estate agent, not an auctioneer; auctions are conducted by Kaufman Realty & Auctions’ auctioneers. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Thinking about buying or selling in Tuscarawas or Coshocton County? Call or text me at 740-610-8725 — I’m happy to help. Matthias Sterzer, Kaufman Realty & Auctions.