Most real estate agents/brokers agree that prior to going to the closing table a buyer should do a walk through and check that the house they are buying is in the same condition as when they signed the contract. Appliances should all be working, items that were negotiated to be left such as window treatments, chandeliers and light fixtures should all be present. The house should be "broom clean".
A buyer does not own the house yet. Even if the closing is only one hour from the walk through the buyer does not own the house yet. A buyer who intends to bring friends, inspectors or anyone else to a walk through needs to get an okay from the seller or wait until after the closing and then invite all of the friends and family you want.
A walk through is not a time to:
1. Walk through the house with an Inspector and write down all of the maintenance items you will need to know when you own the house. This can be done after you own the house or can be done at the time of the original inspection;
2. Inspect all of the things you couldn't see or check during the original Inspection prior to signing the contract. The owner is not obligated at this point to remedy anything that was not discussed or negotiated prior to the contract being signed.
3. Pick out paint colors. Have a floor finisher come and measure to give you an estimate. Have the oil company come and talk to you about service contracts. All of this should be a done after you own the house. On your time, not on the seller's time.
4. If you bring back your Inspector to check the house that is fine. If anything was contractually supposed to be repaired and fixed the Inspector can make sure that the item is in working order. Can check the appliances, water pressure. It is not acceptable to start a new Inspection.
A buyer needs to get permission and let a seller know what they want to do. A buyer who just brings Inspectors, friends and family without letting the seller know is forgetting that someone else still owns the house. I can understand the excitement but until you go to the closing table someone else owns the house.
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