Whether you’re buying or selling a home, not to be confused with a home inspection, the final walkthrough is an important and standard step just before closing. It can typically take place as early as a day or two before closing or even on the same day as closing—in most cases after the seller has vacated the home.
For buyers, it’s one last chance to make sure the seller met all contingencies and everything looks as it should. For sellers, preparing for the buyer’s walkthrough is an opportunity to clean and secure the house before it officially changes hands. Let’s take a closer look at the final walkthrough from a buyer’s and a seller’s perspective.
The final walkthrough as a buyer
You can communicate any issues or problems you find with your real estate agent, who will then communicate with the seller's agent. For example, some concerning issues are if there happens to be major storm damage that has occurred, or if you requested any repairs as a contingency of the sale and they weren't made. The final walkthrough is the time to confirm the home is in the same condition it was when the offer was made, it's not the time to highlight new issues. Even if you didn’t request any repairs, it can still make sense to take one last look through the house to make sure nothing has changed.
Although it's possible to terminate the purchase agreement if there are significant problems or under extreme circumstances, typically, it's hard to do. In most cases, the issues can be worked out or there could be a delay in closing while the issues get resolved.