Once your offer is accepted, an earnest-money deposit can be one of the first items on your transaction checklist. Before sending funds, confirm the amount, recipient, delivery method, and deadline against your signed contract. Avoid letting an urgent email replace that verification.
For the basic definition and how earnest money differs from a down payment, start with my earnest-deposit explainer. This checklist focuses on the practical steps around delivering and tracking your deposit.
1. Confirm the contract details
Review the deposit amount, who is named to hold it, when it is due, and any delivery requirements. There is no single amount or deadline to assume for every transaction. Ask your agent or closing company to explain unclear instructions before you act.
Deposit amount: ______
Named holder and verified contact: ______
Due date and any stated time: ______
Accepted delivery method: ______
Receipt contact: ______
2. Verify payment instructions independently
Establish a trusted contact and phone number before sending money. Confirm payment instructions in person or by calling that previously verified number. Do not rely on a new number supplied in an unexpected email or text, and treat last-minute changes as a reason to stop and verify. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s closing-fraud guidance explains why independent verification matters.
If you think you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or wire provider immediately to request help stopping or recalling it, and report it promptly to law enforcement. Recovery is not guaranteed.
3. Keep proof of delivery
Ask the named holder to acknowledge receipt through a verified channel. Save the receipt, amount, date, and transaction reference with your purchase documents. If the receipt does not match your expectations, raise it immediately rather than waiting until closing.
4. Track the deadlines that affect the deposit
Receiving the deposit does not settle every question about whether it can be returned. Inspection, financing, appraisal, and other contract provisions may have separate deadlines and notice requirements. Calendar them with your agent and discuss any problem as soon as it arises.
Changing your mind does not automatically entitle you to a refund. Likewise, a failed inspection or loan does not by itself establish the result. The signed agreement, required notices, and circumstances matter. Ask a Missouri real estate attorney about legal rights or a dispute.
5. Review how the deposit appears at closing
Ask your closing team to show where the deposit is accounted for on the final settlement documents and how it affects the remaining amount due. Resolve any mismatch before sending additional funds. If the transaction ends early, ask the holder what documentation and process are required; do not assume money will be released immediately.
Keep your next steps organized
A short written checklist is easier to follow than several scattered messages. Keep contract deadlines, verified contact details, and receipts together, and ask questions early.
Visit my Buyers page or contact me for help organizing the steps in your Kansas City home purchase.
