What slows down a closing, and how do I avoid delays?

Closings most often slow down over title issues, a lender needing extra time for underwriting, or repair negotiations dragging past their agreed deadline in the contract. Avoiding delays starts with ordering title work and any required inspections as early as possible rather than waiting until just before the scheduled date. Brian Beatty tracks every deadline in a contract closely so a closing never stalls over something that could have been caught earlier.