Home Purchase Contract Checklist
What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.
You're about to sign a contract to buy a home — likely the largest document of your life. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.
This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.
What a complete home purchase contract states
Price and property — the purchase price, the property address, and the legal description or parcel reference.
Earnest money — the deposit amount, who holds it, and the exact conditions under which it's refunded or kept.
Contingencies, with deadlines — inspection, appraisal, and financing contingencies, each with a calendar date by which it must be used or it expires.
What conveys — appliances, fixtures, window coverings, and anything else included, itemized rather than assumed.
Seller disclosures — the disclosure forms named or attached, and the deadline for delivering them.
Financing terms — loan type, down payment, and what happens if the loan is denied under the stated terms.
Closing and possession — the closing date, when you get the keys, and the per-day terms if closing slips.
Default and dispute terms — what happens if either side doesn't perform, and how disputes are handled.
What's commonly not stated (or easy to skim past)
- Contingency deadlines are dates, not intentions — miss one and the protection is gone even if everyone "agreed" verbally; the contract rarely highlights which date is which.
- "As-is" scope — if any as-is language appears, what exactly it covers (the whole property? named items?) is often one vague line.
- Personal property at the house during showings — the refrigerator in the photos conveys only if the contract says so.
- HOA transfer and document fees — who pays them is a line; in resale purchases it's a real cost that surprises buyers at the closing table.
- What happens to earnest money in each failure case — the contract covers some scenarios specifically and others not at all; the uncovered ones are where arguments live.
None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.
Questions to ask before you sign
- “How much earnest money, who holds it, and in what situations do I get it back?”
- “What are my contingency deadlines — the actual calendar dates?”
- “What's itemized as conveying with the house?”
- “Which disclosures have I received, and which are still owed to me?”
- “If my financing is denied, what exactly happens to the deal and my deposit?”
- “Who pays the HOA transfer and document fees?”
Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?
Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.
Check my document →We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.
FAQ
How do I know if a home purchase contract is standard?
Standard forms vary by state, and "standard" describes the form, not the terms filled into it — price, contingencies, deadlines, and deposits are negotiated on every deal. What you can check without any expertise: every blank filled, every date real, every promise made aloud also written down. Anything else is a question for your agent or attorney.
What if something on this checklist is missing from my purchase contract?
Ask before you sign — through your agent, in writing. Contingencies and deadlines can usually be added or adjusted at this stage and almost never afterward. A missing line isn't a verdict on the deal; it's an unknown in the biggest contract most people ever sign.
Can Spend Defense read my actual purchase contract?
Yes. A purchase contract usually runs longer than 10 pages, so most go through the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages plus a payment-destination check) or Premium Review ($49, up to 100 pages). You'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — note this is a document read, not legal advice; your agent and attorney remain your decision team.
Related checklists
- Closing Disclosure Checklist
- HOA Documents & Resale Packet Checklist
- Mortgage Refinance Paperwork Checklist
Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.