What should I check during the final walk through?
Congratulations! It is time for that final walk through of your new Western New York home. Up until now it has been a whirlwind of activity. This is your final step before signing all of the papers to make this Western New York house your home. You are excited, and think why is this important? Well it is. What if the sellers were a little less than honest? What if they said repairs have been completed and yet they were not? What if they painted the house since you last saw it from beige to burnt orange? What if the lilac bush is gone and it was the reason you bought the home? What if the appliances left are now a combination of avocado and yellow instead of the brand new stainless steel you saw the home with?
Are you starting to understand why a final walk through is important? It is never a good idea to skip the final walk-through.
When should you do the final walk through?
It’s not a time to begin negotiations with the seller to do repairs, nor is it a contingency. It is to confirm that the house is in the condition you agreed to purchase and any required repairs have been completed. I suggest the day before as the previous owners should be out of the home by then. This gives us time to resolve issues that result in the final walk through and we ensure that we do not have any crisis in closing.
Often though you will find yourself doing this walk through just an hour before you sign the papers. The current owners don’t move until the morning, you may be coming in for the closing are reason this happens so close to the actual closing. If this happens and there are repairs that are not completed or other issues your attorney may have money placed into escrow to resolve those issues after the closing.
Things to check in your final walk through
There are so many details in a final walk through, and some of this list may or may not apply to your situation. Use it as a starting point, and make sure that you discuss with your attorney and Realtor for anything that you need to sign off on. Unless the home is being sold furnished, the home should have all personal items removed, the home should be broom clean and ready for you to move in.
Make sure that:
- All repairs have been made, copies of paid bills and warranties on those repairs
There are no major changes to the property since you last viewed it - Run water and check under sinks for leaks
- Flush toilets
All items that were included in the sale price — draperies, lighting fixtures, etc. — are still there
Are all the screens and storm windows are in place or stored
All appliances that are included in the sale are there and operating, such as the dishwasher, washer and dryer, oven, etc. - House mechanical equipment are function and in good working order:
- Intercom/doorbell
- Alarm are operational
Hot water heater - Heating & Air conditions systems
No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard
Garage door opener and other remotes are available
Instruction books and warranties on appliances and fixtures are available
If there are any problems, immediately contact your Real Estate attorney. They are prepared for these issues and will be able to speak with the seller’s attorney and either delay the closing giving the seller time to correct the situation, or escrow money for the situation to be rectified after the closing.
Thinking of buying your first Western New York home? Interested in finding out the current market value of your single family home, condo or investment property? Then call Colleen Kulikowski at (716) 650-0051 to discuss what is happening in today’s Western New York Real Estate Market. We would be happy to give you a personalized Comparative Market Analysis for your home, just fill out the form below. View additional WNY Market Area Statistics here.
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