About to sign the contract

[Bryan Watson]

Hello,

I am going to meet with a seller later today to sign a purchase contract and he wants to see me fill out the check for the earnest money. Do I make the check out to the title company? 

The earnest deposit is $1,000. If I cannot bring a buyer before the inspection period is over which will be 14 days, do I lose that money? 

Also, I assume I should request access to the property immediately upon signing the contract and get a lockbox to put on it. Is that correct?