Read More Than the Price
A land sale agreement sets out what you and the buyer are agreeing to do. Before signing, check the land included, money, dates and any conditions. A good first step is to make a short list of questions as you read.
You don't have to understand every word on your own. Ask the person helping with the sale to explain the terms. Have a local attorney review anything you don't understand or want changed before you sign. This guide helps you prepare for that conversation.
Check Which Land Is Being Sold
Make sure the agreement covers the land you mean to sell. Compare it with your deed and other records. A street address may be missing or may not be enough to describe the whole property.
If you have several parcels, ask whether all of them are included. A parcel is a piece of land with its own county ID. Keep a list of the IDs and ask the closing professional to check the sale description. Our multi-parcel guide can help you make that list.
If you plan to keep part of the land or certain rights, point that out before signing. Ask how the agreement will show it. Don't rely on a casual email or a drawing without having the sale papers reviewed.
Follow the Price and Costs
Write down the purchase price, then ask what you would pay from it. Look for closing costs, any loan payoff and other amounts you need explained. Ask whether each figure is fixed or still an estimate.
Check whether the price is for the whole property or based on the number of acres. Ask what happens if a survey shows a different size. You can use our offer calculator to compare known amounts, but the written terms still need a review.
Ask about any deposit: who holds it, when it is due and what the agreement says about returning or keeping it. Have someone show you the answer in the papers. Don't treat a deposit as money you can spend until its handling is clear.
Ask What the Buyer Still Needs to Do
A buyer may want time to inspect the land or arrange financing. Read what the agreement allows. Ask which checks remain, when they must be done and what happens if the buyer is not satisfied.
- Does the buyer need a loan or another sale to finish first?
- What visits or tests are planned?
- Who arranges and pays for those checks?
- When can either side cancel?
- Can a deadline be extended, and how?
For example, “cash offer” in a conversation may sound simple. Ask whether the written agreement still has conditions that let the buyer leave the deal. Compare the actual terms, not just the label used for the offer.
Make a Small Calendar
Write down the closing date and every other date you need to track. Next to each one, put who must act and what they need to do. Ask how notices must be sent and who should receive them.
A note might read: “Ask the closing team when the survey is due and who sends it.” Don't guess at a deadline or assume a phone call changes it. Have the person handling the agreement explain how changes must be made.
If you live far away, ask how signing will work and what you need to arrange. Bring up travel, shared owners or missing papers early so the closing team can explain the next steps.
Check the Full Version Before Signing
Read the pages attached to the agreement too. These may add terms about loans, leases or rights that aren't obvious on the first page. Ask about blank spaces, checked boxes and anything that differs from your earlier conversation.
State forms have different uses. For example, Texas publishes an Unimproved Property Contract for a stated type of land transaction. Its current form covers subjects such as the property, price, leases, survey and closing. Don't pick a form just because its title sounds right; ask which documents fit your sale.
When changes are made, read the final full copy and keep it. Ask who will send you the signed agreement and what happens next. If a question is still open, get it answered before you decide to sign.
Compare Your Options With the Same Questions
Use the same list for every buyer: land included, price, costs, conditions and dates. If you want Reelvest to review your land, tell us what you know about it. You can review any proposed written offer alongside your other options.
Helpful Source
TREC: current Unimproved Property Contract and its intended use. Reviewed October 2, 2026.