Final Walk-Through Checklist Tips to Help Ensure a Smooth Close

You’re all set and your close date on your new property is approaching. But before you seal the deal, you need to make sure your home is as you purchased in your sale agreement with all the chattels in place and no surprises.  In order to stay on top of things, you should have a thorough final walk-through checklist prepared.

Even though you have documents intended to save you from paying for something you shouldn’t be, things can always be missed. In this post, we provide tips to help you ensure your final walk-through checklist is as thorough as possible. Let’s jump in!

Plan Ahead and Take the Right Tools

Now is the time to be super organized, so costly and unwanted surprises don’t pop up later on. There are certain preemptive actions you can take to ensure your new home is just as it should be.

First, you need to gather your tools for the final walk-through. There is no way you will be able to catch everything if you don’t come prepared with the right supplies. Consider some of the following items:

• Contract: This is one of the most important documents you can bring with you. The contract is what you will use to confirm all terms have been met. If something doesn’t match, don’t hesitate to let your agent know immediately.
• Inspection Summary: If an inspection was completed, use your inspection summary to ensure all repairs have been completed as promised. If anything is not to your approval or looks unfinished, make note, take a picture, and advise your realtor.
• Notepad and Pen: Make sure you note the date and time of your final walk-through before taking any notes. Jot down any questions you have or anything you see out of place. You don’t want to get to the end of the walk-through and forget half of the issues you’ve seen.
• Camera: Most people have a camera built into their smartphone. If you don’t, or you have a poor quality camera in your phone, make sure you bring one with you that can take high-resolution pictures. If there are any issues, the best evidence you can possibly have is photographic.

Take a Thorough Final Walk-Through and Ask the Right Questions

The day of the final walk-through, it is imperative that your real estate agent is with you. They will be the expert who can help guide you through the process. Make sure that in addition to your phone, you also have a charger with you. This can help you to confirm that all of the outlets are working. A nightlight also works well to quickly test outlets. As you walk through the property for the final time, make sure you pay attention to some of the following details:

Have All Repairs Been Completed?

Has everything been done that was committed in your contract? Triple check your inspection summary and any repairs that were agreed to   has been completed to your satisfaction. Additionally, make sure the seller has left behind all receipts and warranties for the work done. If something breaks, you want to know who to call to fix or replace it.

Is Everything There That Should Be?

What comes with the home? Is everything there? If any items were included in the sales agreement, now is the time to check they are present and in the condition agreed upon. The walk-through should always be scheduled prior to the day of closing, so you can confirm the sellers have removed all of their items from the home. Just as you are checking for what should stay, you are also checking for what should have gone. Remember, if they left it behind, it’ll be on your dime to remove it.

Are All Other Items in Good Condition?

In addition to your contractual agreement, there are also some commonsense things you should be checking. You can either print out a checklist template online, or make your own, but don’t forget to inspect the following:

• Appliances: That includes the refrigerator, stove, heating and air conditioning, dishwasher, washer, and dryer.
• Electric: Turn the lights on and off in every room. Check each outlet and every plug.
• Windows and Doors: Make sure everything closes and locks.
• Yard: Take a walk around the yard to make sure landscaping is in place.
• Pests: Check carefully for any pests, everywhere in the house.

Think of the final walk-through as viewing the permanent condition of your new home. It is the last time to speak up before the costs will be incurred by you. If you overlook something or forget it, you’ll miss the opportunity to hold the right party accountable. Having a buyer final walk-through checklist not only ensures the terms of the contract are met, it also guarantees you can start enjoying your new home the second you move in!

If you’re thinking about buying soon or just need some assistance, as always, your ThompsonSells team is here to help every step of the way!