Q4 Transaction Timeline: Reverse Engineering November Closings

You want to close deals in November.

Work backwards from November 30.

The November Closing Timeline

November 30 closing requires:

Contract by October 15 (45-day close) Offer submitted by October 10 Showings week of October 1 Buyer consultation by September 25 First contact by September 20

You're already late if you haven't started.

The 45-Day Close

Standard financing timeline:

Week 1-2: Inspection and appraisal Week 3-4: Loan processing Week 5-6: Underwriting Week 6-7: Clear to close

This assumes no problems.

The Cash Close

Cash transactions close faster:

10-14 days typical Contract by November 15 for November 30 close More flexibility on timing

Cash buyers give you more buffer.

The Listing Timeline

To list and close in November:

List by October 1 Under contract by October 20 Close by November 30

30 days to sell means pricing must be right.

The September Actions

What to do this week:

Contact hot buyer leads Schedule buyer consultations Qualify buyer financing List properties priced correctly Follow up on pending offers

Every day counts.

The Buyer Qualification

Pre-approval should be complete by now:

Lender contact confirmed Financial documents submitted Credit pulled Rate locked if possible

Unqualified buyers won't close in November.

The Showing Schedule

October 1-15: Heavy showing activity October 15-25: Offer writing and negotiation October 25-November 30: Inspection, appraisal, closing

Your October calendar should be full of showings.

The Offer Deadline

Final offers for November closing:

Submit by October 25 for cash Submit by October 15 for financing

After these dates, you're pushing into December.

The Inspection Timing

Schedule inspections immediately:

Week 1 after contract: Inspection completed Week 2: Negotiate repairs Week 3: Re-inspection if needed

Delays here push your closing date.

The Appraisal Timeline

Order appraisal day of contract:

Week 1-2: Appraisal ordered and completed Week 2-3: Report to lender Week 3+: Address any issues

Appraisal delays kill November closings.

The Lender Coordination

Stay on top of financing:

Weekly lender check-ins Document requests handled immediately Underwriting conditions cleared fast

Your involvement speeds the process.

The Title Work

Title should start immediately:

Day 1: Order title commitment Week 1: Review for issues Week 2-3: Clear any problems Week 4+: Prepare closing documents

Title problems take time to fix.

The Holiday Factor

Thanksgiving week impact:

Many offices closed Thursday-Friday Closings before Wednesday or following Monday Plan accordingly

Don't schedule closings for Thanksgiving week.

The Communication Schedule

Update clients weekly:

Where are we in the process? What's needed from them? What's the next step? Are we on track for closing date?

Silence creates anxiety.

The Backup Plan

Build in buffer time:

Target November 15 to close by November 30 Target November 1 to close by November 15

Always plan earlier than needed.

The December Alternative

If November won't work:

Push to December 15 Avoid December 23-31 (nobody wants holiday closings) January closings lose tax year benefits

December has its own challenges.

The Pipeline Analysis

Review your current pipeline:

How many contracts for November? How many showing appointments scheduled? How many buyer consultations this week? How many hot leads need calling?

Your pipeline tells you if November is realistic.

The Urgency Message

Tell buyers and sellers:

"For a November closing, we need to act this week. After September, you're looking at December or January."

Create appropriate urgency.

The Common Delays

What pushes closings back:

Slow buyer responses Lender document requests Inspection negotiation Appraisal issues Title problems

Prevent delays by staying proactive.

Your Next 48 Hours

Review all active buyers.

Calculate their closing timeline.

Contact anyone who needs to see homes this week.

Schedule showings for October 1-10.

Submit offers by October 15.

November closings require September action. Start now.

Tiffany Hampton is a seasoned real estate leader and MAPS Coach with over two decades of experience helping agents succeed through leadership, coaching, and innovative strategy. As the founder of AgentGrowth365.com, Tiffany delivers proven systems, tools, and training that empower agents and market center leaders to grow with clarity and purpose. Whether you're looking to hit 24 transactions, streamline your coaching systems, or lead your business with impact, AgentGrowth365 offers a full suite of solutions designed to meet today's challenges and scale tomorrow's success.