You’ve nearly completed the entire homebuying process . From those early days of using a mortgage calculator to see how much house you could afford , to touring homes online or in-person, and then finally making an offer on your first home. Now here you are, the home inspection is complete, your bank’s appraiser has submitted their report, and the bank has given the green light to send settlement funds to the title company.
You’re almost at the finish line, and that home in Atlanta, GA , Phoenix, AZ , or wherever you’re moving, is almost yours. Except there’s just one last thing to do: the final walk-through. Luckily for you, Redfin has created the ultimate final walk-through checklist to help ensure a smooth closing.
The final walk-through is your last chance – before you take ownership of the home – to ensure that:
While this can seem like a lot of items to double-check, you’ll be glad you took the time to do it right. Unfortunately, things can and do happen during the move-out process, while the house sits vacant or because the homeowner or contractor failed to complete a repair correctly.
Ideally, the final walk-through should happen as close to closing on the home as possible. The seller’s possessions should be completely moved out, which gives you a better look at the home while it’s vacant, especially for any issues that furniture or appliances might have concealed. If you can’t do your walk-through on the day of closing, you’ll want to aim for no more than 2-3 days ahead of closing.
The last thing you want to do is take possession of your new home, and find out that a new problem has emerged since you were last in the house as a prospective buyer, which may have been weeks ago.
The buyer and the buyer’s real estate agent are the only people required to attend a final walk-through. The seller should not be present unless the buyer makes a specific request for them to attend, in which case their real estate agent should also be there.
It is also at the buyer’s discretion whether they’d like the home inspector or any of the professionals who made the repairs to be present. As the buyer, this may result in an additional charge from the inspector, but if you’re double-checking to ensure the work was done correctly, the cost will be worth it.
The time it takes to do the walk-through depends on the house’s size and how thorough you are in your examination. For a 1,200 square-foot house, it might take only 20 minutes to check all the rooms, closets, and cabinets. In a larger house, this process could take an hour or two.
Give yourself an appropriate amount of time to check all of the house systems, storage areas, interior rooms, and exterior features like sprinkler systems, power awnings, etc. No need to rush – you want to be sure there are no surprises when you move in, like a toilet that doesn’t flush or a missing appliance.
The main point to keep in mind for your walk-through is that it’s not another home inspection . This is not the time to bring up entirely new items that you or your inspector did not find the first or second time around. This is a cursory inspection to ensure the house reflects the condition you remember when you made the offer.
If everything on this list checks out – congratulations, your home is move-in ready.
As a buyer, you should bring:
During the final walk-through, you want to ensure that all parties have satisfied the terms of their agreements, and you’re not walking into a repair nightmare now that the home is yours.
The seller must leave the house in “broom swept” condition, meaning they vacuumed, wiped down the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, and swept the floor.
They also must leave behind anything they agreed to in the sales agreement . They can’t decide after the fact that they want to take the window treatments along to their next home. It’s also not acceptable for sellers to leave behind belongings they just don’t want or need anymore, like old clothes, tools and other gear, or other items.
If damage occurred while removing pictures, televisions, or anything else hung or installed, the seller should make these repairs. Sellers should also review the agreed-upon offer to make sure they fixed everything on their list and left behind all the items they agreed to leave.
Mistakes and inadequate repairs happen, especially in the flurry of moving. This is why a final walk-through is so important.
Open communication is the key to solving most walk-through problems. First, talk to your real estate agent, who will then speak with the seller’s agent and explain the issue. It’s important to let the real estate agents on both sides serve in their designated roles, and you’ll likely come to an amicable solution.
Most experienced real estate agents will tell you that problems emerging during the final walk-through are rare, but do happen occasionally. If you find a problem that you cannot resolve on the spot, there are three common courses of action:
If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
Chibuzo is a Content Marketing Specialist on Redfin’s content marketing team. He’s been with Redfin for over two years and enjoys running and playing basketball when he’s not writing. His dream home is a Mediterranean-style house with a large kitchen and plenty of windows.
