What’s the Point of the Confirmation of Acceptance?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It’s one of the most routinely filled-out lines in the APS — the Confirmation of Acceptance.

Yet there’s still a lot of confusion around what it actually does.

Let’s take a look:

In plain terms: this line is meant to timestamp the moment all parties agreed to the final version of the deal.

But here’s the thing…

Legally, it’s not required.

A deal becomes binding when acceptance is communicated to the other party within the irrevocable period — that’s it.

The COA isn’t what makes the deal enforceable.

If that line is left blank, the agreement still stands.

So… does it matter at all?

Maybe — but not for the reason most people think.

The COA is arguably most useful as a reference point for tracking timelines — like deposit deadlines and condition periods.

These deadlines are often based on a time period "after acceptance" — and the COA can serve as the default reference point.

But here’s the tricky part…

The time on the COA ≠ the time acceptance was communicated.

If a seller signs the COA at 10:00 AM but the buyer isn’t told the deal was accepted until 3:00 PM?

The clock starts at 3:00 PM — not 10:00 AM.

Why does this matter?

Because if your deal has “24 hours after acceptance” to deliver a deposit or fulfill a condition, the wrong timestamp can create a serious dispute.

Best practices for Realtors:

• Communicate clearly — Make sure acceptance is relayed as soon as possible, and document when it happens.
• Understand what the COA captures — and what it doesn’t — It records when the agreement was signed by the final party, not when acceptance was communicated. For tracking timelines, always refer to when acceptance was actually communicated.
• Don’t over-rely on it — The COA is helpful for reference, but it’s not the legal authority on when the deal became binding.

Honestly, it’s a small clause that has more nuance than value.

And if I were re-writing the standard APS from scratch, I’m not sure I’d include it at all.