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Try the garage out for size?

What do you do at a final walk through?

In New Hampshire traditionally we have a final walk though prior to closing on a home. Many times this walk through happens before the house is empty and sometimes even during the confusion of the movers hauling furniture out.

Typically we have 48 hours prior to closing to have a satisfactory final walk through and it is always referenced in the purchase contract.

This particular home was due to close on a Friday afternoon and the walk through was scheduled right before the closing.

"At the final walk through everything looked good. All furnishings were removed and the property was very clean. The home inspection had taken place a few weeks prior and the property had been occupied by tenants. After the home inspection, the tenants were then notified that they needed to vacate the property.

The property did close on Friday afternoon and on Saturday, the buyers moved in and found all the toilets were plugged and no water pressure in the shower or tubs. The buyer attempted to unclog one of the pipes and found a bunch of sand in there. Not sure whether there was any sabotage on the part of the tenant or if it was just a fluke.
Admittedly, during the walk through, they did not flush toilets or run the shower."

Hearing about this got me wondering! When Jay and I talked about this particular situation I was surprised to note that what I might consider routine at a final walk through other agents might not.

So my question is what do you as an agent do at final?

Some agents do nothing and let the buyer check what they will.

Some agents...flush toilets, run water, run the dishwasher...the heat...stuff like that for the buyer.

Some give the buyer a check list and have them check what they want on their own.

An agent that we know got sued 2 years ago over a garage...after the closing the buyer found out that their car would not fit in the garage...how many of you have the buyer try the garage out for size before closing? Or before writing up an offer?

As an Agent what do you do?

As a consumer...you need to understand that you have the right to inspect the property before you close on it. Check everything that is important to you...verify that all works the way it should work.

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

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Posted by Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer on 02/01/2007 06:19 PM

Comments (13)

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13 Comments on Try the garage out for size?

FEB

2007

We tried a garage out during a showing once... Years ago. I made the buyer try to get my big old boat (Crown Victoria) in the garage.. I think the problem was the angle of the driveway really rather than the size of the garage.

Walk through, I ususally don't inspect but I welcome the buyers to flush toilets etc. if they are so inclined.

I never ever thought of checking the size of a garage before this happened. The garage was actually a short garage and the buyers had a pretty big car. No one noticed a thing. They were pretty upset...wanted the garage enlarged or a new car????????

Gosh Monika, you do seem to have some strange experiences!! Of course, that gives us something to read about and hope never happens to us!!! ;-))

I always have buyers do a walk-through, and I suggest they check whatever they want. We do also verify that the items requested from the inspections were repaired/replaced as agreed to.

Just last year I had buyers who drove their big SUV on showings specifically for the purpose of checking out the garage size.

You'd think that if buyers had a large oversized car that they'd be acutely aware of garage sizes and would have noticed that the garage of the house they bought was small. I surely hope they weren't successful in that lawsuit against their agent.

Ann

I suggest they flush toilets, run the water including the shower, run appliances (especially check the burners), turn on the heat (even in summer), the garage door openers etc. etc. I've never thought about the garage but that would be too late by the walk thru.

Ann...Thankfully both of these did not involve us personally but involved agents we know well...the sand in the pipes is an ongoing issue. The short garage...E&O settled the claim. The buyers agent was the only mentioned in the suit...and she did not attend the final as she was under going chemo...

Linda ....The garage is something I now always mention. Prior to this I never gave it a thought.

Thanks so much for commenting ladies.

You know, we never mention anything. We are afraid that we might be considered as ADVISING if we were to do anything else and advising can lead to law suits. (That is out of our "scope" of our profession - looking for things that are wrong.)

However, we have never had anything like that happen between inspection and final walk. The worst that we have dealt with (for the most part) is leftover furniture and wall dings.

Our final walks are verification of current condition and a final verification that all inspection items were completed. So, besides the inspection checklist, the rest is up to the buyer. Our contracts state "buyer" only in reference to the final walk.

What stories you have Monika! Good thing you are writing them down. You could publish a book.

Mariana...Colorado...I forgot you are not a fiduciary state...even for your sellers right? Does anyone advise the buyers there? I do have a lot of stories.... I am in the middle of a mediation that I'd love to blog about...maybe someday. Thanks so much for commenting Mariana.

The mediation I know about? ;-)

LOL....good god! Ann!!!I'd have to really disguise it well! :)

FEB

2007

Yes Monika, you do have some strange experiences! Must be that mountain air. I do not personally check things in a walk through. I suggest to the buyer (if I am the agent) to check anything they want to know is working. I will admit we have not checked a garage, though and I may mention that in the future. I don't think that the size of a garage should be a criteria for suing though!!!! I have to agree w/Marianna about not mentioning anything. But suggesting someone check things out surely cannot get us in trouble?

Hi Karen..Thanks so much for stopping by :) We actually have a finial walk through contingency in our pre-printed forms...so for us it is something we routinely do. But what the agents suggests the buyers look at seems to be different from agent to agent. I have often wondered what would of happened with the garage had E&O not settled and it went to court.

FEB

2007

I have had the garage experience but tell you that it makes me more afraid of the customer trying out the garage and damaging their car or the house! I pretty much tell them to make sure they have the proper measurements of the car and the garage - no trying on my shift....imagine if they press the gas instead of the break and go through a wall?

As for walk-through's I do suggest that they try EVERYTHING! I make sure that they understand there is no going back if they find anything wrong after that point. They pretty much take care of turning everything on by themselves.

For a minute there, I though you were going to find a mouse inside the garage! :)

Ines...Great point...measure instead of trying it out for fit! I can see it now...REALTOR crushed in garage as customer tries it out! LOL!

Mouse...no thanks had enough of them...yuck!

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