Closing on your new home is an exciting and often hectic time. But you should always make time for a final walk-through to make sure your new home is in the condition that you expect it to be. Depending on what time you have your closing scheduled for, your agent may recommend that you do your final walk-through the evening before or morning of closing.
Here is a list of things that you should look at when you walk-through the house:
- Make sure all of the Seller's personal property and debris has been removed. Check every room and spaces like the basement, attic, and crawl spaces to make sure nothing has been left behind.
- Check that all the repairs you've requested have been made. The Seller's Agent should be able to provide you with a list of receipts for work that was done by contractors or for new items that were purchased.
- Look over the property to make sure no major, unexpected changes have been made since you last visited the home.
- Check that all items of personal property included in your contract are still on site. This includes items you may have requested (such as refrigerators, washer, dryer) and items that are written into your standard contract. The standard contract in Virginia includes items like blinds, ceiling fans, curtain rods, audio-video mounting hardware, mailboxes, exterior plants, smoke detectors, and more.
- Make sure all appliances are operating correctly and are in the same condition as when you last visited the property. Don't forget to include your hot water heater and HVAC systems in these checks.
- Walk through the yard to make sure no major changes have been made to plants or shrubs, unless you have been notified in advance.
- Look for the garage door opener and other remotes for appliances in the home.
- See if they have left instruction books and warranty information on appliances and fixtures. Most agents will instruct sellers to leave them out on a table or kitchen counter where they can be easily found.
- Make sure all window screens and storm windows are in place or stored somewhere in the house.
- Check to see if your doorbell, alarms, and intercom systems are working properly.
Of course, all of these items are dependent on the terms of your contract. If your contract says that an appliance conveys in an as-is condition or that a certain shrub in the backyard does not convey, your personal checklist should reflect that.
Your agent who attends the walk-through with you will also help you go through the list and check on items to make sure everything is in the condition that you expected things to be in. If repairs are not made or things that were supposed to be left behind have been taken, your agent will want to get in touch with the Seller's agent quickly to rectify the situation. Sometimes this can be in the form of a credit at closing, an amount held in escrow until the situation is fixed, or even purchasing a new item to replace something that is missing or damaged.
Your agent will be your guide through the walk-through, just as they have been throughout your real estate transaction.
If you have more questions about what to expect during a real estate transaction, call New Leaf Team at (434) 214-6121. One of our licensed agents will be glad to answer your questions.
