The Final Walkthrough in Your Prospective New Home

So you have found the perfect home for sale, placed an offer, negotiated price, went under contract, had a home inspection, finalized the selling price based on any repair costs, and all of your financing is in order including the bank’s appraisal. You are now almost ready to close on your new home.

A day or two before you sign the closing documents to finalize the purchase of the home, buyers are given a chance to do a final walkthrough of the property to make certain that everything with the home is in order as it is suppose to be. Think of it like your last chance to insure that nothing has occurred, been broken, or been removed (if it was supposed to remain) since the inspection.

Things to Look for During the Walkthrough

This is not a time to be focusing on where you will put your sofa or measuring for new curtains. You are there with your real estate agent to look for any surprise issues you had not bargained for, and work with the seller to address any new issues you discover. A walkthrough should take 45 minutes to an hour while you pay close attention to the condition of the home and property, and ensure that all systems, sinks, and any remaining appliances are functioning... and are relatively cleaned out.

Be sure to check that...

• All the appliances are in working order and have been cleaned out of any contents.
• All the toilets flush, all the tanks refill, and the water stops running accordingly.
• All the light and electrical switches work, and dimmer switches function.
• Sink, shower, and tub faucets work and the drains are functioning well.
• Drain stoppers work.
• Mold, water issues, or any leaks in the plumbing.
• The home is free of any new signs of damage (some things can become damaged during the seller’s move-out process)
• All agreed upon repairs have been completed by the seller.
• The furnace (and if applicable, central air) work.
• Everything that is supposed to remain with the home as part of the purchase are still there: appliances, furnishings, hot tub, etc.
• Everything that is supposed to have been removed is gone.
• All windows and doors are in the same condition and functioning.
• The home is not left with trash and other items to be disposed of.

One exception to this final walkthrough is if the home is a bank owned property. If it is a foreclosed home, you can probably count on buying it “as is” no matter what has occurred with the property since you had it inspected. But, just like with the inspection, you may have an opportunity to back out of the deal if, say, you discover that the pipes have burst since you last were there. But be aware that banks do not typically make any repairs.

If you are dealing with a typical home seller, once you have walked through the home and determined what is in order your Realtor will let the seller’s agent know if there are any issues that need to be addressed before the closing and before you take ownership. If there are issues to resolve, it may be necessary to return to the property after the seller corrects them, to insure they have been done according to the terms of your contract. If the walkthrough goes as planned, you are one step away from becoming the proud owner of your new home.