In real estate, the final walk-through is exactly what it sounds like. It's a chance for the home buyer to walk through the property one last time before signing documents and closing the deal. But what do you look for during the final walk-through? Here are five things to focus on.
1. Look for Any New Damage
Moving can be destructive. If you've relocated a household full of furniture in the past, you probably know this firsthand. Walls get gouged, chandeliers get busted, windows get shattered. Or, if you're lucky, the people before you had a smooth move with no damage whatsoever. There's only one way to find out. You have to inspect the home one last time before closing. This is one purpose for the final walk-through, to check for damage that occurred since your last visit. Don't sweat the small stuff. A few scrapes and scratches aren't worth a delayed closing. But if you find any serious damage, you might need to negotiate repairs with the seller.
2. Check on Repairs That Should've Been Made
Did the seller agree to fix discrepancies identified during the home inspection? If so, the final walk-through is your last chance to follow up on those repairs. Ideally, the listing agent will keep you informed about this, and let you know as soon as any repairs are made. But sometimes the communication just isn't there. So you need to follow up. The final walk-through is your chance to do exactly that.
3. Check Operability of Electricity and Plumbing
Plug your smart phone into the outlets to make sure they're all working. Switch all lights on and off. Check all sink faucets and flush the toilets. In short, make sure all electrical and plumbing systems are in good working order.
4. Look for the Seller's Leftover "Junk"
It's fairly common for sellers to leave unwanted items behind when they move out. A few items here and there are no big deal -- you can always toss them out on trash day. But if you find a "mountain" of junk that was left behind, the seller should deal with it. The final walk-through is your last chance to check before closing
5. Look for Items That Were Supposed to Convey
Did you negotiate for the sellers to leave their flat-screen TV? Or maybe those custom drapes, or the washer and dryer? If your real estate contract specified that such items would convey with the home, you should make sure they're still inside the home. This is another thing to look for during the final walk-through.
