STEP 38 – TO SELLING YOUR HOME – THE FINAL WALKTHROUGH
The walkthrough usually takes place about 3 days before closing and is a chance for the Buyer to make sure the property is still in the same condition it was during the inspection and that we have fixed any agreed-upon repairs. On average, the walkthrough takes about 15 minutes.
Think of the walkthrough as a mini-inspection. If damage did occur while moving out or between the inspection and closing, the Buyers can delay closing until you fix the damage, require you to put money into escrow for the repairs to be done after closing, or cancel the contract and walk away. That’s why it’s important to leave the property clean and in good condition.
The purpose of the walkthrough:
- Make sure the house wasn’t hit by lightning.
- A time to make sure the property is clean or will be clean by closing.
- An opportunity to make sure nothing was majorly damaged while moving out.
- A second chance for you to make sure all of the appliances are still working.
- All attached items such as shelving, light fixtures, curtain rods, etc. are on the property as required to stay and transfer with the property.
- All cabinets and drawers are empty.
- Test all windows again.
Follow These Steps to Prepare for the Final Walkthrough
To help ensure that the walk-through goes smoothly, take these five steps ahead of time to prepare:
Step #1: Clean the house. Your home should be spotless for the final walk-through. Assuming the Buyer is taking ownership on closing day, you should be fully moved out at this point. But moving can be messy. After purging, packing, and moving, you may want to do one more deep cleaning.
Step #2: Leave the owner’s manuals and warranties. Make the Buyer’s life easier by providing all manuals and warranties you have for home appliances. Print physical copies and put these documents in one place for the new owner. If you have receipts from contractors for repairs, leave them with the manuals.
Step #3: Provide a vendor list. Give the Buyer contact information for home contractors or maintenance companies that you’ve used in the past. These vendors are familiar with your home, and the new owner will appreciate having a list of services they can trust will take good care of their new home.
Step #4: Check for forgotten items. Do one more check throughout the home to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind. One exception: You may want to leave unused or leftover paint cans in the colors currently in use within the home — but confirm with the Buyer first.
Step #5: Lock up. Until you get the call from me that everything has officially recorded at the courthouse, you’re legally responsible for the home — meaning you’d be liable if there’s a break-in before closing. So, make sure to close window coverings and lock the entry doors. If a house looks un-lived in, it’s a welcome sign to burglars. It’s a good idea to leave a porch light on or to set an interior light to turn on and off with a timer.
Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the final walkthrough. We’re almost there!
Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.
This content is not the product of the National Association of REALTORS®, and may not reflect NAR’s viewpoint or position on these topics and NAR does not verify the accuracy of the content.
Copyright © 2023 Andi Dyer and Sterling Real Estate Group. All rights reserved.
