What To Look For On A Final Walk-Through

The final walk through is in the home stretch before a real estate purchase is closed. Still, it's not something to be taken lightly - the final walkthrough is your chance to take a careful look at what you're buying and be sure that everything is as you expected. Ask your real estate agent to accompany you on the walk through as an experienced second set of eyes, and go through the following items:

• The major systems in the home are working such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.
• Appliances are working.
• All items that were agreed upon to convey with the home are in place. This could include window treatments, lighting fixtures, or other items.
• Manuals and warranty information for appliances and other items are present.
• Home is reasonably clean.
• There are no major repairs needed such as to the flooring, walls, trim, or exterior.
• If sellers have already moved none of their personal belongings have been left behind.
• Items have not been removed from the landscaping unless previously agreed to.

Keep in mind that if you are buying a home "as is" or you were already aware that something was not working or needed repairs and agreed to purchase the home anyway, you won't need to bring these items up during the final walk through. If however, you had been under the impression that all appliances were to be included with the property and during the walkthrough you notice that the washer and dryer are missing this is the time to bring it up. Voice any concerns to your real estate agent and he or she can advise you about how to best proceed.

Additional home buying resources:

Choosing A Real Estate Agent
Moving Into Your First Home
Which Documents To Keep From Your Real Estate Closing
Tips For Packing Like A Pro

And learn much more in the Mortgage and Home Owner Education Center.

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