What to Look for During Your Final Walkthrough
Before you sign the closing papers for your new home, you get to do a final walkthrough inspection. While you may be anxious to get the closing day over with and start moving in, take your time to cross the finish line.
The final walkthrough is your chance to ensure that everything is in working order and that the seller made any repairs you outlined in your offer. As you and your buyer's agent go through the house room by room, note that it is in the same or better condition as when you made the offer.
Failing to take advantage of the final walkthrough can be detrimental to a real estate transaction. Real estate is one of the most significant investments you will ever make, and a final walkthrough is purchase security on a silver platter.
As a real estate agent in San Francisco, one of the busiest and most expensive real estate markets, I cannot stress enough the importance of a thorough final walkthrough. Buying a home and wondering what to look for during your final walkthrough? Look at my checklist below.
1. Inspection Repairs
You most likely included an inspection contingency when you submitted your offer. This contingency means that your offer depended upon the seller making repairs to certain things in the home. For example, if the home inspection revealed a roof leak, the seller would have to repair the leak before closing.
2. Seller's Belongings
Before and during your final walkthrough, check every room for any belongings the seller may have left behind. Doing so is advantageous for two reasons. One, it's easier to inspect and evaluate an empty house. Two, it saves you time having to move things out while you're moving in.
3. Items the Seller Agreed to Leave
On the flip side, your offer may have been contingent on the seller leaving certain personal property items in the house. With your offer letter, you should have a list of items the seller agreed to leave. Check each room to ensure they followed through.
4. Locks and Windows
Before you close, check the locks and windows to ensure your new home is secure. Does everything lock correctly? Do the windows easily open and close? Are there any screens missing?
5. Appliances
Check every appliance to ensure it works correctly, even if it's new. Appliances can be expensive, so it's better to let the seller handle the repair or replacement of a faulty appliance than to find out after closing. Test:
That the oven heats up without smelling like gas.
The dishwasher.
The washing machine and dryer.
That the drains don't clog.
That every faucet runs hot and cold water.
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
The security system.
That the toilets flush.
6. Electrical Systems
Turn on every light and test every outlet in the house. This measure might seem overkill, but one faulty outlet can cause problems down the road since most electrical systems work on a current.
7. Mold and Pests
While the initial home inspection should have revealed the presence of mold or pests, you should always check that nothing new has appeared. If the seller has vacated the house, they may have left behind trash that attracted rodents or water on the bathroom floor that has caused mold to grow.
8. Backyard and Outdoors
Finally, take your final walkthrough outside and inspect the exterior as thoroughly as you did the interior. Make sure the landscaping looks flawless – sometimes, when sellers leave a property, they dig up plants and forget to fill in the hole. Check that the gate latches. Turn on the sprinkler system. Inspect the exterior of the house and any sheds, fences, or other structures.
The Final Word on Walkthroughs
In the fast-paced San Francisco real estate market, anxious buyers are more likely to skip the final walkthrough to expedite the closing process. This move causes a lot of buyers' remorse.
If you find issues during the final walkthrough, you have the opportunity to talk to the seller about the best course of action to remedy them. This conversation could save you thousands of dollars on repairs after closing.
Keep this final walkthrough checklist handy or send it to a friend who's getting ready to purchase a home. Talk to your real estate agent about your house to review other specific items to look for during your final walkthrough.
