Why, Why, Why would an agent not insist that their buyer do a walk-through of a property right before they close? And if the buyer won't, why wouldn't the agent do the walk-through themselves? I can think of few things that irritate me more than getting the call that something is wrong with the house or what was left in the house AFTER the buyer has closed, seller has their money and has moved across the country when there was ample time prior to closing for the buyer to walk through and make sure everything was alright.
Stuff happens in any real estate transaction. It’s life. There are those transactions that go exceptionally smooth, and there are those that got completely wrong. Most fall somewhere in between. Once escrow closes, the transaction is complete, & everyone mentally and emotionally moves on. Sellers are in their new home and agents are thinking about the check list for the next closing.
Yes, I have a check list. A physical check list. It includes such things as reminding the seller to cancel their insurance, have the utilities taken out of their name the day AFTER the buyer takes possession, reminding our buyers to have the utilities transferred into their name the day OF possession, and yes, it includes a final walk through of the property with my buyer. If there are higher end appliances that are supposed to stay with the house, or inspection repairs that were supposed to be completed or receipts, keys, garage door openers (and codes) that were supposed to be left, we check for those things. I have the inspection report with me, and sometimes even have pictures of the appliances that were present on the day the buyer(s) wrote the offer.
I understand that sometimes the buyer doesn't take immediate possession and a walk-through may seem pointless. It isn’t. Seeing if the seller has even started packing; making sure that repairs have been made and receipts are provided; or the appliances haven’t been changed out for cheaper models. And when the buyer does get to take possession right after the loan has funded, the seller has generally been moved out for days or at least hours. If a wall has been damaged in the move or the refrigerator has been loaded on the moving truck or a long forgotten stain on the carpet is revealed after the sofa is removed, a walk-through of the property prior to closing would reveal that and it could be dealt with much easier than after the loan has funded and the seller has their funds. Buyers have very little leverage left once that happens, and an agent who is looking out for their client will realize that and insist on that final walk-through.
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