Buying a home?
Here's what actually happens.
Buying a home involves a lot of moving parts, and most people only do it a handful of times in their life. We put together a plain-English walkthrough of the whole journey — what happens when, what to watch for, and where insurance fits in.
Not your first home? It's probably been a few years — and a lot has changed. Most repeat buyers tell us this was worth the read too.
Why trust us on this? John has a background in the mortgage industry before ShieldCo — so this isn't insurance-agency guesswork about how closings work. It's how we've seen it happen.
The Home Buying Journey
Every purchase is a little different, but this is the path most buyers follow. Blue steps are where we come in.
Get pre-approved
A loan officer reviews your income, debts, and credit, then tells you what you can actually borrow. This is the real starting line — sellers rarely take an offer seriously without it.
Watch for: pre-qualified and pre-approved are not the same thing. Pre-approval carries far more weight with sellers.
Find your home
You work with a real estate agent to tour homes and find the one. Depending on the market, this can take a weekend or the better part of a year.
Watch for: roof age, electrical panel type, and past water damage. These affect whether a home is insurable and at what price — long before an inspector shows up.
Offer accepted — the clock starts
Once your offer is accepted you're "under contract," and a series of deadlines kicks off. Most closings run 30 to 45 days from here.
Watch for: your earnest money deposit is now at stake. Missing a deadline can cost you real money.
Inspection & appraisal
An inspector examines the home's condition, and your lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home is worth what you're paying. Either one can change the deal.
Watch for: keep a copy of the inspection report. Roof age and system updates in it can affect your insurance quote.
Shop your homeowners insurance
Your lender will require proof of homeowners insurance before you can close. This is the point to start shopping — not the week of closing. We compare 20+ carriers and handle the paperwork with your lender directly.
Start early: give yourself at least two weeks. Rushing this is how people end up overpaying. Get a free quote →
Underwriting & final approval
Your lender verifies everything one last time — income, employment, credit, and your insurance binder. Then they issue a clear to close.
Watch for: don't open new credit cards, finance furniture, or change jobs right now. It can undo your approval days before closing.
Sign and get the keys
You'll sign a stack of documents, bring your down payment and closing costs, and walk out a homeowner. Your policy takes effect the day you close.
Watch for: review your Closing Disclosure carefully a few days ahead, and do a final walkthrough of the home before you sign.
Settle in — and review once a year
Home values, rates, and your own situation all change. A quick annual review makes sure your coverage still matches what your home is actually worth to rebuild.
Do this now: photograph or video every room while the house is empty. It's the easiest home inventory you'll ever make, and it matters if you ever file a claim.
Get the free Homebuyer Toolkit
Everything above, plus the video walkthrough and the checklists we use with our own clients. Free, and yours to keep.
No cost, no obligation. You don't have to be a client, and we won't pester you. If you want a quote later, you know where to find us.
Send me the toolkit
We're putting the finishing touches on it right now.
Coming soon
The toolkit and video course are almost ready. In the meantime, everything in the journey above is yours to use — and if you have a question about any of it, just ask. We're happy to talk it through with no obligation.
Want us to let you know the moment it's ready? Send us a note and we'll add you to the list.
Three things buyers
usually learn too late
None of these are complicated. They just aren't obvious until someone tells you.
Start insurance before you need it
Your lender needs proof of coverage before closing, and waiting until the final week is how people end up taking the first quote they're handed instead of the best one.
You insure the rebuild, not the price
Your coverage amount is based on what it would cost to rebuild the home — not what you paid for it. Those two numbers are often very different, and that surprises almost everyone.
Bundling usually beats shopping twice
Putting your home and auto with the same carrier is one of the simplest ways to lower your total cost. Worth checking before you set anything in stone. Get a quote →
Ready when you are.
Whether you're six months out or under contract this week, we're happy to talk it through — no pressure and no obligation to buy anything.
myshieldco.com · Missouri Independent Agency · Est. 2019