How escrow works, step by step
Every escrow follows the same four phases. The buyer and the seller each see a different side of the process, but the money only moves when both stand on the same page.
From agreement to release in four steps
1. Agree
Buyer: writes down what must happen before the payment is released.
Seller: confirms the conditions and commits to delivering on them.
2. Deposit
Buyer: moves the full amount into a neutral escrow account, separate from both parties.
Seller: sees the deposit confirmed and knows the funds are reserved.
3. Deliver
Buyer: waits for the goods, the service, or the evidence agreed in the contract.
Seller: ships, performs, or submits the documentation that proves delivery.
4. Release
Buyer: confirms that the conditions are met, or the agreed evidence is accepted.
Seller: receives the funds from the escrow account. The deal closes as agreed.
If the deal stalls
The money stays in the escrow account until both sides confirm the conditions are met. There is no automatic release and no automatic refund. The two parties talk, align, and when the conditions are satisfied the funds move. The process simply waits for the agreement to be fulfilled.
Set up an escrow for your next deal
Tell us about the transaction, the parties and the conditions. We will set up the account and walk both sides through the steps.