When you are buying a home, it is essential to do one or two final walk-through inspections prior to closing.
Check completed repairs
If the seller was required to make requested repairs, verify that the repairs have been made as soon as the seller notifies you they are complete. Do not wait, because if problems still exist you will need time to get them corrected before closing. The home inspector who discovered that repairs were necessary should accompany you to vverify that repairs were done correctly.
The day of closing
Always do a final walk-through after the sellers have moved, but before closing. You simply want to make sure that the home is in the same condition it was in when you signed the offer to purchase it.
- Have items been damaged? Inspect floors, walls, door frames etc.
- Do a quick test to learn that all appliances, heating, cooling and other systems are working
- Make sure all items the sellers agreed to leave are still there
- And, on the other hand, make sure all items are removed that you requested
If the condition of the home has changed, you are in a better position to get the issues handled before the deed changes hands. Remember, the final walk-through is not the time to do a home inspection. It is simply an opportunity to make sure that the home being conveyed to you is the home you agreed to buy.
