The visual guide / 01
Work backwards from the deadline
The wording and notice requirements in your agreement control the process.
- 01
Read the condition
Confirm its scope, exact time and notice requirements.
- 02
Book the checks
Send documents and arrange access promptly.
- 03
Review the answers
List requirements, costs and remaining uncertainty.
- 04
Decide deliberately
Discuss the available choices before the deadline.
Put the deadlines in your calendar immediately
Read the condition wording with your agent and identify the exact deadlines and notice requirements. Book inspections and reviews early. Tell the lender and other professionals when you need their answers, and ask whether that timing is realistic.
Keep a short list with three columns: question, person responsible and due date. Financing, insurance and inspection work can depend on the same documents, so send relevant information promptly.
Get a property answer from the lender and insurer
Ask your lender what remains outstanding for this purchase, including appraisal, documents and any property concerns. An earlier pre-approval does not establish that the particular home and loan have been approved.
Obtain an insurance quote for the intended use and disclose relevant property facts. If a system or repair needs attention before coverage or funding, ask for the requirements in writing.
Worked example
Thursday at noon: work backwards from the agreement
Understand the inspection findings and their limits
Ask the inspector to identify the findings that could change your willingness or ability to buy. For each one, distinguish the observation from the cause and the repair. A stain is an observation; the extent of a leak and the work needed may require further investigation.
Read the access limitations as carefully as the findings. If snow, stored belongings or finished walls prevented an assessment, ask what could be checked and what uncertainty would remain. Then decide whether that uncertainty fits your budget and circumstances with the appropriate advice.
For a condo, connect the document review to the costs and rules affecting you. For a rental, resolve the tenancy and possession questions. Ask your lawyer about relevant title, property records and contract issues. The useful outcome is a short list of understood concerns, priced work where possible and clearly identified gaps.
Make a deliberate decision before the deadline
Compare the unresolved items with your budget and willingness to proceed. Talk through your contractual options with your agent and lawyer. Negotiation, an extension or ending the purchase may depend on the specific agreement and the other party's cooperation.
Do not let silence or an unanswered request stand in for advice about a deadline. If you need more time, address it before expiry and confirm any agreed amendment in writing.
Send the actual condition wording and exact deadline to the professionals involved. “We need it this week” can mean something quite different from a notice that must be delivered by noon on Thursday.