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Glossary · Closing & Contracts

Inspection Period

The buyer's cancel-for-any-reason window: the single most important date in a Florida contract.

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Quick definition
The inspection period is the negotiated window (commonly 7–15 days from the effective date) during which a buyer under Florida's AS-IS contract may terminate for any reason — inspection findings, financing cold feet, anything — and receive the earnest money deposit back. After it expires, backing out generally puts the deposit at risk unless another contingency applies.

How the clock runs

The period runs from the contract's effective date (the date the last party signed or initialed the final offer). Days are calendar days under the FAR/BAR forms, with deadlines ending at 11:59 p.m. — and the timeline does not pause for weekends. Scheduling the inspector immediately is standard practice for a reason.

What buyers do with it

Beyond the general home inspection, the window is when Florida buyers run the specialized checks: 4-point and wind-mitigation inspections for insurance quoting, WDO (termite) inspection, and — for condos — the document review. Insurance quoting inside the window matters in Florida: an uninsurable roof discovered after the period expires is a much more expensive problem.

After it expires

Once the inspection period ends, the deposit is generally only protected by remaining contingencies — financing and appraisal being the usual ones. A buyer who simply changes their mind after the window typically forfeits the deposit.

Common questions.

Can a buyer cancel for any reason during the Florida inspection period?
Under the AS-IS FAR/BAR contract, yes — cancellation during the inspection period for any reason returns the earnest money deposit to the buyer.
Do weekends count in the inspection period?
Yes — the FAR/BAR forms count calendar days. A 10-day period that starts on a Thursday includes both weekends inside it.
What should be done during the inspection period besides the home inspection?
In Florida: insurance quoting (with 4-point and wind-mitigation inspections if the carrier wants them), WDO/termite inspection, and for condos the association document review. Discovering an insurability problem inside the window preserves your right to cancel.
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