You can extend your rate lock and charge to seller if you wanted to keep escrow open until repairs are done or go credit route. With a repair escrow, the buyer receives a designated sum of money from the seller to address the repairs.The only ones that can instruct escrow to not close are the principals ( buyer and seller ) only . Agents don't legally have the right to. Consider escrow funds. Its main function is to shield buyers from project delivery delays and sellers from late payments. Learn how to create a repair escrow to ensure the home seller makes repairs even after the sale and honors promises from your negotiations pre-closing. You as a seller are not required to even respond to any request for repairs you receive. You probably should, but you don't have to at all. The account will be filled with the proceeds from the sale of the property if the seller needs to sell the house to pay for the repairs.