Congratulations On Finding Your Dream Home: You're Almost There!
At this stage of home buying, from using mortgage calculators and visiting properties online or offline to making offers and final walk-through inspections - everything has gone according to plan! But before celebrating in style there's one final task left - conducting a final walk-through inspection before closing day arrives.
Don't fret: our final walk-through checklist has you covered to guarantee an effortless closing experience. Now is your last opportunity to ensure all requested repairs have been made, no new maintenance issues have arisen, all fixtures and furniture have been properly placed into their positions and that all systems and appliances are functioning effectively.
But when should a final walk-through take place? As close to closing as possible; no earlier than 2-3 days prior if necessary if not possible on closing day itself. Only buyers and their real estate agents should attend.
What should you look out for during a final walk-through? From home exterior to interior inspections, our comprehensive checklist can ensure you don't overlook anything important during this final inspection process. Don't forget your original final offer agreement document(s), inspection report, agreements notebook camera & this final walkthrough checklist on this final walk-through inspection trip!
Remember, sellers should leave the house in "broom swept" condition and provide any agreed upon items listed in their sales agreement. Should any issues arise, open communication is key and your real estate agent can assist in finding solutions to any hiccups in this process.
A final walk-through may cause anxiety, but most often goes smoothly. Now that your homebuying journey has nearly come to a conclusion and excitement has started building within, now's the time to imagine yourself living there and making it your own with this ultimate final walk-through checklist!
Your Final Walk-through Checklist Before Closing
1. Confirm that all agreed-upon repairs have been completed to your satisfaction, including fixtures and furniture mentioned in your contract that remain within your home.
2. Check for any new maintenance needs since our inspection took place.
3. Verify all systems and appliances listed by the seller at the time of offer are still operating efficiently.
4. Carefully examine the exterior of the house for any signs of termite damage such as decayed wood. Inspect for trash or items left by previous sellers that might remain.
5.Operate major appliances like the washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, stovetop and oven as well as verify that refrigerator and freezer are running.
6. Check HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) system regardless of temperature outdoors
7. Carefully examine every faucet in your home by running both hot and cold water through all faucets at once to make sure sinks drain correctly, pipes don't leak, toilets flush correctly and work correctly, flushes are checked for leaks to make sure that they work as intended, showers/bathtubs receive sufficient amounts of hot/cold water, etc. ; and ensure water runs through shower/tub combinations properly (whether running hot/cold water simultaneously). When finished running all necessary shower/tub combinations; be sure you fill/ drain them.
8. Flushing all toilets to check for leakage through pipes/faucets into drains/valves/valves which should all drain down correctly while not leaking anywhere along their route from their source until reaching destination (pipe/vav).
9. Run water through all tub/shower combos/baths etc... and ensure proper drainage in their respective tanks without leakage to prevent overfilling/ / drain properly/vouchered).
10. Make sure all ceiling fans and light switches in every room work.
11. Verify any outlets repaired during repairs are operational before using them again.
12. Scan for mold growth around corners or spots previously covered by furniture in each room and check regularly.
13.Check all doors and windows to make sure they open/close correctly, look for missing window screens or sticky doors and ensure everything locks properly.
14. Inspect the ceilings, walls, crown molding, floors and baseboards closely. Did the seller perform all agreed-upon caulking and paint repairs as agreed upon or is there evidence of new damage since their departure?
15. It is essential that all fixtures, such as doorknobs, blinds, lighting, ceiling fans and built-ins, remain intact before proceeding with your final contract. Any attempt at removal should only occur if such removal was stipulated within it.
16. Confirm that all items promised under your sales agreement, such as appliances or window treatments, have been left behind by the seller.
17. Test outlets by plugging-in an object like a clock, phone charger or nightlight to confirm they work as intended.
18. Be sure to bring along either a phone with photographic capabilities, a camera or notebook for documenting any new damages or concerns and for taking notes during your meeting.
By conducting a comprehensive final walk-through, you can ensure all parties involved have met their obligations, and there won't be any unpleasant surprises once ownership transfers hands.
If you need an experienced real estate agent that can help you through the final walk-through and every stage of the real estate transaction contact
Diana Renee, top Corona real estate agent.
