How To Fill Out a California Request For Repairs When in Escrow. The repair escrow agreement details the scope of the repairs, the budget, and the timeline, ensuring that the work is completed postclosing.The buyer and seller agree to an escrow timeline during contract negotiations, and each sale varies, but normally escrow takes around 30 to 60 days to close. The escrow process acts as a checkpoint system where a neutral third party, the escrow agent, ensures both buyer and seller fulfill their obligations. An escrow holdback is the act of collecting additional funds at closing that will be refunded after necessary repairs have been made to the purchased property. This blog post aims to unravel the legal intricacies and potential consequences of backing out of an escrow contract in California's real estate market. See an approximated timeline for the escrow process and what you can expect from the offer to the final close. Essentially, a repair escrow is an agreement between the Buyer and Seller to set aside money to complete required repairs after the transaction closes. Demand the seller comply with the terms of the contract. It allows the sale to proceed while ensuring that repairs are completed after closing.