You put in a bid, they accepted your offer, you secured the mortgage, negotiations are complete. All you need to do is sign the contract at the closing. Right? Wrong. There’s one more step – the walk through.
The purpose of a walk through is to ensure the property that you’re buying is in the condition you saw it in before you negotiated the contract (and confirmed during the home inspection). It is also the time to review the required repairs that you identified during the home inspection.
Please note: You should get the receipts at the closing of any work completed that required a licensed contractor.
The walk through generally takes anywhere from fifteen minutes up to an hour. It should be conducted as close to the closing as possible, such as earlier in the day or even the day before, and you should have your contract and attorney letter that outlines the repairs you negotiated with you when you conduct it.
To ensure that the negotiated repairs and that the rest of the house or condo is still in the condition that you saw when you placed your bid, you should:
- Confirm that the appliances, lighting, and other property you purchased along with the house or condo contract is still in your new home
- Check to ensure that all the repairs that you negotiated in your contract have indeed been done to your satisfaction
- Look for any damage that might have occurred when the previous owner moved out as well as any trash or unwanted items that were left behind by the sellers (be sure to check storage areas, basement crawl space, and attic)
- Check that the faucets (be sure to check for leaks under the sinks), garbage disposal, HVAC (i.e., the heating/cooling system), exhaust fans, lights, appliances, toilets (flush them and check the flapper), garage door openers, and other fixtures continue to work
- Inspect the doors and windows for the screens and storms, the basement for any water issues, and the exterior of house and grounds.
What if something is broken, damaged, missing, or not up to standards? Let your attorney know as soon as possible. He or she will work out a solution with the seller’s attorney.
Of course, my team and I are here to help every step of the way, including the walk through. If you have any questions about this step or any step in the home buying process, please email us today or call 847-274-6676.