Home Buyers Final Walk-through Checklist

What should you look for? What happens if something is wrong? Are things often found at the final walk-through?

The final walk-through in your home buying process is a time of mixed emotions. There is an extreme sense of happiness that comes from getting to see your new home right before heading off to your closing attorneys office and signing your final documents for home ownership! However the anxiety of what should I be looking for and what if something is wrong can set in pretty quickly! This is where a real estate professional comes into play and can advocate for you in the end of a transaction when needed to ensure everything is in good working order for your first night in your new HOME!!

What to check during the FINAL walk-through?

• Are all appliances working as intended?

• Is your HVAC unit functioning on both cool and heat settings?

• Is your hot water heater producing hot water?

• Are all faucets in good working condition with no leaks?

• Make sure NO damage has occurred at the property.

• Are all lighting fixtures working as intended?

• Are all breakers in the main breaker box in the correct position?

• Do all of the toilets flush in every bathroom?

• Have the previous owners removed all personal items?

• Has the home been "broom swept" ?

• Has the grass been cut and landscaping acceptable?

• If there were any agreed upon repairs have they been completed in a professional manner?

These items are not always checked and sometimes buyers are unsatisfied when they move into a home and find that there is NO hot water!! Imagine after a LONG day of moving furniture and unpacking boxes wanting to take a nice warm shower and hop into the bed you have just set up to find there is no HOT water!!! Not how you want to end your first long day during your moving process!!

When is a good time to schedule my FINAL walk-through?

I always recommend my clients preform their final walk-through the day before or the day of closing. This way if there are any repairs that will need to be made or credits that will need to be made in place of repairs it can be handled before going to the closing table. This way all parties can swiftly and smoothly make it to the closing table to finish all documents upon a satisfactory walk-through.

Do buyers find issues with homes on the final walk-through?

YES!!! It is not uncommon for a buyer to discover a non functioning hot water heater or a refrigerator that has stopped cooling during the homes vacancy. When homes sit empty and no one is around to use commonly used appliances and home systems this is the time they stop functioning as intended. It is EXTREMELY important that you complete a final walk-through with your agent and that it be done as close to closing day as possible. You must also remember to allow your agent to advocate for you in this case and allow time for repairs or accept a credit for those repairs. And if you are unsure of this and need help CALL ME! I'm happy to help with any and all of your real estate needs!