When you’re just before closing on the property, you’ll be entitled to do a final walkthrough home inspection. The final walkthrough is your opportunity to ensure that everything is in working condition and that your new home is ready. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at what you need to carry out and why it’s important during the final walkthrough.
What Is A Final Walkthrough?
A final walkthrough is an essential part of the homebuying process. It allows buyers to inspect the property before the official closing. The walkthrough allows the buyer and their real estate agent to go to each room throughout the house.
The walkthrough allows buyers to ensure that everything is in the same (or in better) condition as the last time they visited the house. They can confirm that the seller did not take anything from the house that they were not permitted to. It also helps the buyer to ensure that the seller has completed any promised repairs.
Final Walkthrough Checklist
The final walkthrough is the buyer’s opportunity to ensure that the home is in good shape and that there are no unresolved issues that the seller has not addressed. Once the closing occurs and the buyer moves into the house, it will be too late to bring any issues to light. Hence, it is crucial that the buyer be thorough. Here’s a checklist of things to keep an eye out for during the walkthrough.
Inspection Repairs
When you made an offer on your house, you may have included an inspection contingency and a few maintenance requests. Did the seller agree to make repairs before the closing? This is your last chance to ensure that the seller completed all needed repairs – or that no additional, obvious repairs need to be done. You must ensure that the repairs made meet your expectations and involve quality workmanship.
Bring a copy of your inspection summary and your accepted offer letter, and double-check on every repair the seller promised to do. Check everything for yourself rather than merely taking the seller’s word for it.
Request warranties or repair invoices for all work done on the home by the seller. Know who to contact if something breaks after you move in. This can save you money because most home repair firms provide limited-time warranties with free repairs. After that, cross-inspection fixes off your list.
Belongings Moved In Or Out
Before you close the deal, be sure that the seller has totally moved out of the house. This is advantageous to you as the buyer for two reasons. For starters, strolling through an empty house makes it much simpler to discover new faults that may have happened while the seller was gone, as well as repairs that were not done as promised. Second, knowing that the homeowner has completely moved out saves you the hassle of cleaning up after someone else.
Check each room for any items that the seller may have left behind. You might wish to seal off each room as you check in to avoid missing anything.
Review your seller’s acceptance letter for everything they promised to leave behind. Verify your agreement for appliances, fixtures, and other items. Before closing, contact the seller if you realize they left something behind that they shouldn’t have, or they’ve taken something they promised to leave.
Locks And Windows
Make sure your home is totally secure before closing. Verify if all windows and doors function correctly.
In addition, your home may include an alarm system that alerts you when a window or exterior door is left open. Activate your alarm system and test the sensors on all of your doors and windows.
Appliances
Confirm that all of the appliances in the house function properly. Follow this basic checklist to determine what needs to be tested for its functionality.
- Check that your oven warms up without emitting a gas smell.
- Run the dishwasher through a complete cycle to ensure that your dishes are clean and undamaged when used.
- Run water through all of the drains to ensure they empty and do not clog.
- Make certain that your garage doors only open and close when you use the right key or code.
- Use your HVAC system in both heating and cooling modes to ensure that your home heats up or cools down in a fair length of time.
- Flush every toilet to make sure it works well.
- Run the water in your showers and sinks to ensure that the water becomes hot and cold in a fair length of time, check the shower’s water pressure, and ensure that your bathtub holds water when you plug the drain.
Making sure that all of your appliances function before closing might help you save money on repair fees. If you are purchasing the home as-is, make a list of what needs to be replaced or fixed. This will make future maintenance and repairs easier to do.
Who Attends A Final Walkthrough?
In most circumstances, the final walkthrough is attended just by the buyer and their real estate agent. The real estate agent is there to assist them throughout the transaction. A professional Realtor® may be more knowledgeable about what the buyers should look for during the walkthrough. If something is amiss with the house, the realtor can advise the buyer on what to do next.
What To Do If You Find Issues During The Final Walkthrough
While final walkthroughs are usually successful, it is possible that buyers may still encounter issues. If you find problems, you have a few options available, and which one you select is likely to depend on the severity of the problems.
Ask the seller to address any minor issues before the closing. You may postpone the closure to give the seller time to correct the situation. In severe cases, such as when there is significant damage to the house or a costly repair that the seller refuses to complete, you may be forced to walk away from the deal or take legal action.
The final walkthrough is your final opportunity to identify problems with your house and ensure that the seller has completed all necessary repairs. Don’t leave anything out of your final walkthrough checklist, and if you discover any issues with the home, talk with your real estate agent to determine the best course of action.
That being said, keep in mind that there will always be items you want altered or updated in your new house, and it is unreasonable to expect the seller to make every single requested change. After you officially purchase the house, you are likely to do some home renovation work on your own. If there are any jobs that are above your field of competence, prepare to seek an estimate or advice from a professional.
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