Scheduling Closings Around Holidays: What Agents Need to Know

Understanding Closings Around Holidays and Fridays

Closings can be scheduled any day that banks and your closing company are open, including the day before a holiday. The actual closing process remains the same, though you may notice the office is a bit busier than usual. The real difference with holiday and Friday closings comes down to what happens after everyone signs the paperwork.

Why These Days are Different

The last day of the month is consistently busy, regardless of which month it is. Fridays come in as the second busiest, outpacing every other weekday throughout the year. The Friday preference stems from convenience rather than cost savings or requirements. Many people assume they need to close on Friday to move over the weekend, but once closing is complete, the property belongs to the buyer regardless of what day the closing happened.

Pre-holiday periods create similar dynamics as people work to finish transactions before holiday breaks. Buyers want to settle in before family arrives, and sellers often coordinate their moves around holiday travel plans. The exception is late December, when activity typically slows considerably as people focus on family time and year-end holidays.

These volume patterns matter because they directly affect how quickly funds move after closing. A mid-week closing in October processes differently than a Friday closing the week before Thanksgiving, even though the closing itself looks identical.

The Business Day Timeline

The distinction between regular closings and holiday or Friday closings is primarily about money and timing. The escrow accounting department works to disburse funds the same day whenever possible, but the policy allows up to 48 business hours for fund disbursement. This standard timeline provides necessary flexibility while still moving money quickly during regular business weeks.

But holidays and weekends change how those business hours are calculated. A Wednesday closing before Thanksgiving means the 48-business-hour window doesn't start counting down during the Thursday and Friday holiday closure. Funds that might typically arrive on Thursday could instead arrive the following Monday.

Fridays work similarly since weekends don't count as business days. A Friday afternoon closing means funds likely won't disburse until Monday at the earliest, and possibly Tuesday, depending on when the closing finishes and processing volume.

Closing time becomes especially important on these high-volume days. A morning closing offers a better chance of same-day disbursement, while a late afternoon closing on the day before a holiday reduces that window significantly. If your closing finishes at 4:30 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, there's a strong possibility your seller will be waiting until the following Monday to receive their proceeds.

Processing During High-Volume and Holiday Periods

During high-volume days, fund disbursements move through a sequential process. Each closing that day joins a queue, and the escrow team works through disbursements in order rather than prioritizing individual files based on urgency alone. This system ensures fairness and accuracy, but it does mean that being one of many closings that day naturally extends processing time compared to being one of just a few.

Holiday periods add another layer of complexity. Multiple parties in the transaction operate on reduced schedules during these times. Wire verification provides a clear example. When sellers are using their proceeds to purchase another property, the receiving title company needs to verify wire instructions before funds can be sent.

During regular business weeks, this verification might happen within hours. During holiday periods when offices have limited availability, that same verification process can take considerably longer. The accounting team may need to wait until after the holiday to reach someone at the receiving company, which extends the timeline for getting funds where they need to go. Before a four-day holiday weekend, this kind of delay can mean the difference between funds arriving as expected or being held until the following week

What Agents Should Consider When Scheduling Holiday Closings

Understanding how holidays and high-volume days affect fund disbursement helps you make informed scheduling decisions with your clients. These considerations don't mean you need to avoid certain days entirely, but they do help you set realistic expectations and choose timing that works best for each situation. A few planning adjustments can significantly reduce stress for everyone involved in the transaction.

Time of Day

Closing time has a significant effect on the likelihood of same-day fund disbursement. An early morning or mid-morning closing gives the accounting team a full working day to process and disburse funds. A late afternoon closing reduces that window considerably, especially on high-volume days.

This timing consideration applies to any busy closing day, whether that's a Friday, the day before a holiday, or the last day of the month. The difference becomes especially pronounced when the next business day is several days away. A 10 a.m. closing on December 23 offers a reasonable chance of same-day disbursement. A 4:30 p.m. closing that same day makes it much more likely that funds won't go out until after the Christmas holiday.

Back-to-Back Closings

When your seller is using their proceeds to close on another property, advance communication is essential. The funds need to be transferred from one title company to another, which requires wire verification between the two companies. This verification process protects everyone involved, but it does take time to complete.

Letting your closing team know about the back-to-back situation when you submit the contract rather than at closing prevents unnecessary delays. With advance notice, the accounting team can begin working on wire verification early in the process. Without that heads-up, verification has to happen after closing when time is already compressed.

This planning matters year-round, but it becomes more complex around holidays when reaching someone at the receiving title company for verification can take longer.

Type of Transaction

Certain transaction types are processed differently from standard purchases and sales. Assumption loans and tax sales, for example, may have different timelines or requirements that affect how quickly everything moves through the system. These transactions aren't common, but when they do come up, the processing variations can be significant.

If you're working with an unusual transaction structure, discuss the timing implications with your closer early in the process. They can walk you through what to expect and help you plan the closing date accordingly. This conversation is valuable for any closing but becomes particularly important when holiday schedules are involved.

Buffer Time

Scheduling closings a few days before holiday breaks rather than immediately before creates valuable room for managing the unexpected. Most closings proceed smoothly, but when something does need attention, having a buffer day or two means it can be resolved without pushing into a multi-day closure period.

The same principle applies to the Friday closing preference. A Thursday closing still offers the weekend for moving while avoiding the highest-volume day of the week. Your clients get essentially the same convenience with less pressure on the disbursement timeline. For sellers who need their proceeds quickly or buyers coordinating multiple moving parts, this one-day shift can make a meaningful difference in how smoothly everything flows.

Tips for Smoother Holiday Closings

Planning a closing around a holiday doesn't have to be stressful. A few straightforward practices make the process work more smoothly for you, your clients, and the closing team. These tips apply to any closing but become particularly valuable when holiday schedules compress the normal timeline.

Verify and Submit Contact Information

Make sure the title company has current phone numbers and email addresses for all parties well before closing day. The accounting team uses this information to deliver wire instructions and coordinate fund transfers. Outdated contact information creates delays that become more problematic during time-sensitive periods.

This verification is especially important for wire instruction delivery. When a buyer needs to send funds or a seller needs to receive proceeds, any delay in getting wire instructions to them extends the entire timeline. During holiday weeks when everyone is working within compressed schedules, these small delays can compound quickly.

Communicate Early and Often

Share any special circumstances with your closing team as soon as you become aware of them. The earlier they know about potential complications or time-sensitive requirements, the more effectively they can plan around them. This proactive communication matters for any closing but becomes especially valuable during holiday periods when timelines are already compressed.

Keep the accounting team copied on emails that discuss fund-related matters. Your closer can provide you with the appropriate contact information for the accounting department. This simple step ensures that everyone who needs to process or track funds stays informed about special instructions, timing requirements, or coordination needs.

Talk With Your Closer

Every holiday situation brings its own unique considerations. The specific holiday, the day of the week it falls on, and the details of your particular transaction all affect timing and processing. Your closer can provide guidance tailored to your specific circumstances rather than general advice.

These conversations give you the information you need to guide your clients effectively. Instead of guessing about timelines or making assumptions based on previous closings, you can get reliable answers about processing schedules and what the specific situation requires. This preparation allows you to address questions and concerns before they become sources of stress or confusion.

Set Client Expectations

Help your clients understand that closing day and move-in day don't necessarily need to be the same. Once closing is complete and all documents are signed and recorded, the property belongs to the buyer. The timing of the actual move is a separate decision from the closing date. This understanding gives you more flexibility in scheduling closings during holiday periods.

Explain the business day timeline for fund disbursement, especially around holidays. When clients understand that holidays extend the timeline for receiving proceeds, they can plan accordingly. A seller who knows their funds will arrive the Monday after Thanksgiving rather than the Wednesday of closing can make informed decisions about their own purchase timeline or moving schedule.

Frame mid-week closings as a lower-stress option rather than a compromise. Thursday closings still allow for weekend moves while avoiding the highest-volume day. Closing a few days before a holiday provides better odds of same-day disbursement while still wrapping up before the holiday break. Presenting these alternatives as strategic choices rather than concessions helps clients see the practical benefits.

Planning for Holiday Closings

Holiday and Friday closings aren't problematic. They simply require slightly different planning than closings scheduled during the middle of a regular business week. Understanding how business day timelines work and how volume affects processing helps you make informed scheduling decisions.

Communication and realistic timeline expectations make the difference between a smooth closing and a stressful one. Your closing team can answer questions about particular holidays, discuss timing for unusual transaction types, and help you think through the best approach for each situation. South Oak is committed to making every closing work smoothly, regardless of when it's scheduled. Contact us to learn more, or order a title and schedule a closing today.