Find every contingency in your purchase agreement and its deadline
Contingencies let a buyer back out, or renegotiate, if something important does not check out: the inspection, the financing, the appraisal, the title or the sale of another home. Each one usually has its own deadline and its own way of being removed. Ask Search+ which contingencies apply and when each ends, and open the citation to read the notice rules before a date slips past.
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Last updated October 2026
How to track contingencies with Search+
- Upload the agreement and every addendum
Add the purchase agreement, counteroffers and contingency addenda. Contingency periods are often changed after the original signing.
- Ask for each contingency and its deadline
Ask "Which contingencies does the buyer have, and when does each one expire?" Then ask about one contingency at a time for the detail.
- Ask how each one is removed
Ask whether a contingency is removed by written notice, expires automatically or is deemed waived. Open the citation; the method matters as much as the date.
Questions about contingencies
How long is the inspection contingency, and what can the buyer do if the inspection finds problems?
What happens if the buyer cannot get a loan on the stated terms by the deadline?
Is there an appraisal contingency, and what happens if the appraisal comes in below the price?
Is the purchase contingent on the buyer selling another property?
Are contingencies removed by written notice, or are they treated as waived when the period ends?
What to check about contingencies
Inspection, financing, appraisal, title and home-sale contingencies are frequent in home purchases. Business deals use similar conditions under other names.
Some agreements require the buyer to remove a contingency in writing; others treat silence as waiver. The difference can decide what happens to a deposit.
Contingency periods may run from acceptance, from delivery of a document or from a fixed date. Read the starting point as well as the length.
Contingency rules and standard forms differ by state and region. An agent or lawyer can tell you what is customary where you are.
Search+ cites the clause for each contingency and can draw on all the addenda in the workspace, so you can confirm the current dates.
Contingency wording and what to ask next
| Wording you may see | What it usually signals | A follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| "contingent upon Buyer obtaining financing" | A financing contingency | What loan terms must the buyer obtain? |
| "inspection period" | Time to inspect and object | What can the buyer ask for after the inspection? |
| "appraise at or above the purchase price" | An appraisal contingency | What are the options if it appraises lower? |
| "deemed waived" | Passive removal | When does the waiver take effect? |
| "written notice of removal" | Active removal | How and to whom must notice be given? |
What is a contingency in a purchase agreement?
A contingency is a condition in a purchase agreement that must be satisfied, or waived, within a set time, and that usually lets the buyer cancel or renegotiate if it is not met.
Questions about contingencies
Can Search+ list my contingencies and their deadlines?
Will it show me how to remove a contingency?
Can it tell me what happens if financing falls through?
Can it read the inspection report too?
Can Search+ tell me whether to remove a contingency?
Never miss a contingency deadline
Start a workspace, upload the agreement and addenda, and ask when each contingency ends.
Start a workspace