The Importance of a Final Walk Through

Shared by Hello Pam Evans Real Estate

If you’re in the process of purchasing your first home, it’s only natural to feel a bit overwhelmed and unsure about how to tie all of the closing elements together. However, along with making a point to utilize the services of an experienced agent, conducting a thorough final walk through is essential.

To start, however, it’s vital to have a solid understanding of what the walk through entails and why it’s so important. Sometimes referred to as a “pre-closing inspection,” the final walk through gives the buyer an opportunity to make sure that the home is in proper working order and that all previously agreed-upon issues have been remedied.

While it may be tempting to assume that this type of final check is irrelevant if the home has already undergone a professional inspection, it’s important to note that a walk through is NOT a home inspection. The purpose of a home inspection is to make sure the frame of the home is in order (i.e. foundation/roof, wiring, heating and air, and plumbing), while the purpose of a walk through is to make sure that the terms of your contract are met.

Arranged through your real estate agent a couple of days before your scheduled closing date, for your walk though, you’ll need to remember the following things:

• Take your contract with you as a reference. If both parties agreed that certain personal items will be sold with the home (i.e. drapes, appliances, light fixtures), you’ll want to make sure that those pieces are still on site.
• Make sure that the home is in the same—or better—condition than when you last saw it. Something as simple as a dripping faucet can cause water damage, so you’ll want to make sure these types of issues are addressed before closing.
• Make sure all appliances and light fixtures are in working order. Turn on/off all lights, flush all toilets, and turn the heat and/or air conditioning on and off.
• Open and close all windows and doors to make sure nothing sticks or simply won’t open.
• Check the exterior of the home, especially if there have been strong storms since your last visit.
• Check all stored screens and storm windows to make sure they’re in good shape.

While it may seem somewhat tedious, taking care to go over the home with a sharp eye is truly a good investment of your time. If the process is rushed or simply overlooked, chances are good that you may find yourself addressing unexpected repairs for the first few months of your residency.

Therefore, save yourself the trouble and schedule a thorough walk through. If you’d like the assistance of an experienced Realtor to help with the process, please contact me. I’d love to be of service.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551

This post was sponsored by Hello Pam Evans Real Estate.