6 Steps You Should Follow to Have a Smooth Walk Through and a Successful Closing

Your buyers have received their final loan approval and settlement is scheduled for tomorrow. The end is in sight. All that is left to do is the final walk through! Here are some hints to assure that the buyers’ last trip to the property is a smooth one.

The final walk through has two primary purposes. The first is for the Buyer(s) to determine if according to the contract, the Sellers have left what they said they would leave such as appliances, window treatments, light fixtures, the playset, or the hot tub...and that they have taken what is not in the contract.

The buyer expects a home that is broom clean – unless they have agreed that certain items should be left behind. For instance, the garage should be emptied of the equipment not included...the lawn mower, snow blower, rakes etc.

The seller should leave the basement and storage area empty. Don’t assume that the buyers want dried out cans of touch up paint and half empty bottles of brake fluid! Even though the seller is well meaning the new buyers may not like the sellers’ choice of colors or want to work on a car. They not only have no need for such things, but now they have to find a recycling center that will accept them.

There are some other places that sellers need to remember to check as they move out. Be sure that there is no laundry left in the dryer, dishes in the dishwasher, or boxes in the attic.

The buyer expects an empty house from top to bottom and an empty yard. There are times when trash pick up is the day after closing and there may still be things left in the "discard" pile at the end of the driveway. Be sure it is not blocking the driveway and making it difficult for the movers to navigate and unload the buyers’ furnishings.

A real gift to the buyers is an empty and clean house. A cleaning service that comes in after the seller has moved out will be greatly appreciated!

What should the sellers leave for the buyers so that they are smiling at closing?

1.The Home Warranty Brochure with coverage outline and contact number.

2. Manuals and appliance warranties

3. List of any regular service people - HVAC, landcape, sprinkler systems, and electronics who know the house and how it works.

4. Landscape Plan - for homes with gardens- where plants are located and the care they need to flourish.

5. Day of the week for trash pick up

6. Extra keys and fobs, garage door openers, mail box keys, and parking passes

Sellers who want to go the extra mile leave the menus from restaurants that in the area, a bottle of champagne or fresh flowers, with best wishes for a happily ever after in their new home, working light bulbs in every fixture and fresh rolls of toilet paper in every bathroom.

The best surprise is no surprise...unless it IS that champagne and the special touches that the buyer will appreciate!

Howe Real Estate Should Be. Lise Howe believes that there is a large gap between few truly professional real estate agents and the rest of the licensees. She wants always to deliver that professional high level of service, guaranteeing a stress free and productive transaction for her clients. As a true advocate for her clients, she represents their interests to make sure they get the best deal possible in a constantly changing market. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in North Potomac or Darnestown, the Lise Howe Group of Keller Williams Capital Properties would love to speak with you. Lise Howe can be reached at lise@lisehowe.com or 240-401-5577.