Final Walk-Through

Taking a final walk-through the home you’ve agreed to purchase prior to closing is an essential step in the home-buying process. By now the property should be vacant and you and the seller have completed all of your negotiations and have agreed on the terms of the purchase transaction.

In many cases, the negotiations included some repairs or other terms that specified which appliances or other items, such as window treatments or lighting fixtures, were to be included in the home sale. At the very least, it’s best if you confirm before closing that the home is in the same condition as it was when you entered into the purchase contract.

Now is also the time to make sure that any items the seller agreed to remove are gone. Taking the walk-through prior to closing is crucial because you haven’t yet paid for the home and during this pre-close time, the seller will likely be motivated to remedy any problems.

You may want to compile a list of the agreed upon repairs and items or appliances the seller agreed to include as part of the home sale. The list will help you remain focused on the agreed upon terms while you check for any new problems or damage that may have occurred during the seller’s move or while contractors were making repairs.

If you and the seller agreed on some major repairs, such as for pest damage, dry rot, or to heating or air conditioning systems, it is a good idea to have an earlier walk-through, and possibly an additional inspection, to verify that the major issues have been corrected.