Agreement on Costs: The parties agree on the estimated cost of the repairs and how much money will be held in escrow to cover these expenses. Washington state's escrow process is similar to other states where an escrow agent is used to complete the transaction.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. WA state isn't really a dry closing. You just don't get the keys until it's recorded with the county. A repair escrow is an agreement between the Buyer and Seller to set aside money to complete required repairs after the transaction closes. Answers to frequently asked questions related to Title Insurance, Escrow, Closing the Escrow, CFPB, and local utilities information. An escrow holdback can benefit both buyers and sellers in some situations. For buyers, it can ensure that the repairs are done properly and in a timely manner. Repairs are usually required to be completed prior to closing.