You’ve accepted the offer, made it through inspections, and finally have a closing date on the calendar. At this point, it can feel like the hard part is over, but the house isn’t officially out of your hands quite yet.
The days leading up to closing are also when buyers sometimes make seemingly small requests. Many are completely reasonable, but others can leave the seller taking on unnecessary responsibility for a property they still legally own.
That doesn’t mean sellers need to say no to everything. It just means some favors are better handled after the keys officially change hands.
Moving Their Belongings in Before Closing
A buyer may ask to put boxes in the garage or start unloading a moving truck a few hours early. The problem is that if closing is delayed or falls through, their belongings are now sitting inside a house you still own and you may have created an unnecessarily complicated situation.
Getting the Keys Early
Handing over the keys may feel like a formality when closing is only hours away, but sellers shouldn’t casually blur possession and ownership. If buyers need access early, talk with your real estate agent or attorney about the risks and how possession is handled in your particular transaction rather than simply leaving the keys for them.
Storing Furniture in the Garage
Sometimes the request isn’t technically to “move in.” Instead, buyers might ask whether they can leave a couch, appliances, boxes, or other belongings in the garage until closing, but many of the same concerns remain because you’re taking responsibility for someone else’s property before the transaction is finished.
Starting Repairs or Renovations Early
The buyer is excited about the house and wants to get a head start by painting a bedroom, ripping out carpet, measuring for cabinets, or bringing a contractor inside. Unless your agreement specifically allows it, there’s little benefit to letting someone alter a house that still belongs to you before the sale is complete.
Having Contractors Start Work
Even when buyers don’t plan to do the work themselves, they may want painters, flooring installers, cleaners, or other contractors to get started before move-in day. That introduces additional people onto your property and creates questions about responsibility if someone gets injured or something gets damaged.
Delivering New Furniture or Appliances
The new refrigerator has a delivery window that falls the morning before closing, so the buyer asks whether you can simply let the delivery crew inside. It may seem like an easy favor, but a delayed closing could leave you with someone else’s refrigerator sitting in your kitchen and a buyer who technically doesn’t own the house.
Doing One More Walkthrough Without Their Agent
Buyers may want to stop by to measure rooms, show the house to family, check something they forgot during the inspection, or take another look around. There’s nothing inherently unreasonable about wanting another visit, but access before closing should still go through the appropriate people, not turn into an informal open-door arrangement.
Leaving Something Behind That Wasn’t Part of the Deal
A buyer might suddenly ask you to leave the patio furniture, lawn mower, garage shelving, television, or another item they noticed during the walkthrough. If you’re willing to include it, put it in writing so there’s no confusion later about what was supposed to remain with the property.
Making a Repair That Wasn’t Previously Agreed Upon
A small issue noticed during the final walkthrough can quickly become a request for the seller to “just fix it before closing.” Before agreeing, determine whether you’re obligated to make the repair, and make sure any new agreement is documented rather than making a rushed promise just to keep closing on schedule.
Giving Them Permission to Move Something
The buyer might ask whether they can remove an old shed, take down a fixture, move an appliance, or dispose of something before closing because “it’s going to be ours anyway.” Until the transaction is complete, however, they’re making changes to your property, so waiting a few more hours or days is usually the cleaner option.
Agreeing to a Last-Minute Credit or Price Change
Closing is close, emotions are high, and nobody wants the transaction delayed, which can make sellers more willing to agree to an unexpected credit or concession just to get the deal finished. Don’t let the pressure of being almost done keep you from reviewing exactly what you’re agreeing to and how much it will actually cost you.
Letting a Verbal Agreement Replace the Contract
One of the easiest traps is agreeing to something casually because everyone seems to be on the same page: “Sure, we’ll leave that,” “You can come by in the morning,” or “We’ll take care of it after closing.” If a last-minute agreement matters enough that either party could be upset if it doesn’t happen, it matters enough to have your agent or attorney document it appropriately.
