Central Ohio's Updated Purchase Contract: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know

If you buy or sell a home in Central Ohio this fall, there is a good chance your offer will be written on a newly revised form. Columbus REALTORS® released an updated residential purchase contract, effective October 1, 2026.

Most of the changes are clarifications rather than major overhauls, but several directly affect buyers and sellers. Here is a plain-language overview.

1. Broker Fees Are Negotiable, and the Contract Says So

The contract now includes an acknowledgment that "broker fees are negotiable and are not set by law." That has always been true, but it is now stated directly in the agreement. Expect your agent to walk through compensation clearly before you sign.

2. Inspections Are the Buyer's Responsibility Unless Agreed Otherwise

The revised language states that "unless the parties agree otherwise in writing, the buyer is responsible for obtaining inspections and tests." For buyers, that means scheduling inspections quickly and tracking the inspection period closely. Missing a deadline to request repairs or to terminate can limit your options.

3. Possession Timing Is Clearer

The seller keeps possession until the later of the date and time written in the contract or the actual closing. In practice, if closing is delayed, possession moves with it. Buyers planning a move-in date and sellers planning their move-out should both build in some flexibility.

4. Smaller Clarifications Worth Knowing

• Mirrors: The fixtures list now specifies mirrors stay with the home "if attached." Whether a mirror hung on a hook counts as attached can be debatable, so spell out any mirror you expect to stay or go in the contract.
• Agricultural tax recoupment: For land enrolled in Ohio's Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program, the contract now records whether the buyer will take on any tax recoupment if the land leaves agricultural use. This mostly affects rural and acreage properties.
• Earnest money: Deposit timing, notice, and disbursement procedures remain in the contract, with the form simplified.

What This Means for You

• Buyers: Know your inspection deadlines from day one, and confirm in writing anything you expect to stay with the home.
• Sellers: Plan your move-out around possession terms, and identify any items you are taking, like a favorite mirror, before you list.
• Everyone: Read the full contract before signing, and ask your agent about any section you are unsure of. Legal questions belong with a real estate attorney.

Bottom Line

Central Ohio's revised purchase contract, effective October 1, 2026, makes broker fee negotiability explicit, puts inspections squarely on the buyer unless agreed otherwise, and ties possession to the actual closing. None of the changes are dramatic, but each one is a reason to read your contract carefully and know your deadlines.

Margaret Lipp | REMAX Premier Choice

Serving Upper Arlington, Dublin, Worthington, Clintonville, Hilliard, Powell, Grandview, and all Central Ohio communities

Source: Columbus REALTORS®, "Revised Residential Purchase Contract Available," October 1, 2026. This post is a general overview, not legal advice, and does not cover every provision of the contract. Consult a licensed real estate attorney for legal questions.