Buying a new house is a daunting process. Once you have done negotiations over repairs, inspections, appraisal, and all the other tasks associated in the process, there is a single duty left: Walk-Through of the house.

In most of the cases, walk-through is conducted a week before closing the transaction and depends over the availability of the house or whether the owner has moved out or not. Walk through is an important part of the overall transaction and you need to make sure that everything remains unchanged from the time you have selected that house. Since, you have done most of the formalities and it is going to be your home only, the current owners often become careless.

The main purpose of a walk-through is to ensure that nothing has changed since the initial deal and the owners have left the house in, as it is condition. You need to consider some important factors during the walkthrough.

Prepare Yourself for a Walkthrough

Walkthroughs are conducted after the current owners have moved out of the house, and you need to be in proper contact with your listing agent to schedule a walkthrough accordingly. It will help you prepare for the final walkthrough. Make sure that the utilities are on during the walkthrough period (your real estate agent will take care of that). Do not go for a walkthrough without the utilities and you can even delay the closing if the supplies are cut off.

Carry a list of repairs that the owners agreed to before the closing and make sure that all the repairs have been made as per the record. You can point out anything that seems out of order or not according to your deal.

Condition of the House: There are chances that you may find some damages, which might occur when the previous owners moved out. Some of the most common damages include broken fixtures, scrapes on wood floors, baseboard damages, and damage incurred to the walls during the process. Make sure to check every single part of the house and list down any of these damages.

Agreed repairs: First thing is to check that all the repairs that the owners agreed upon have been done. Some repairs include warranties and you need to ensure work orders, repair warranty papers, permits, and contact information of the contractor.

Check major appliances: Every purchase enlists appliances that are included in the sale. Check all the individual appliances and make sure that they are what you agreed upon. Some sellers often replace high-end appliances with used or low-grade equipment. Further, it is best to run all the appliances for proper functioning. Inform previous owners about any damaged equipment or something that needs fixing instead.

Plumbing and exterior: Check the plumbing and hot water supply along with heater and air conditioner. You need to check all the exterior utilities including automatic garage repair, landscaping, and built-in barbecue.

On top of these checks, your house should be clean and should not have a trace of pervious owner’s possessions. You need to document anything that does not seem appropriate and report it to the owners.

Provided courtesy of Yvette Belisle - Alaskan Spirit Realty
Real Estate Brokers of Alaska

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Alaskan Spirit Realty | (907) 868-2811

yvette.belisle@gmail.com | www.alaskanspiritrealty.com

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