Home buying tips for the final walk-through of the home you are buying can be very beneficial. It’s one of the most exciting steps of the home buying process. This step is set in place to make sure you won’t be getting any surprises after you sign your home buying settlement papers. The final walk-through will allow you to see the home in its vacated state so you can make sure there is no damage that was not seen before.
In many cases when you visit the home the first time the sellers personal belongings are still in the home. During the final walk-through you will be able to see what the floor under area rugs really looked like, what the wall looks like that was behind the couch, what the carpet looks like that various furniture was covering and more. Taking your time during your final walk-through is very important; therefore, I have some tips to help you along the way.
Final Walk-Through Tips
Scheduling Your Walk-Through – You should not schedule your walk-through too soon. Once you sign the settlement papers, any unforeseen property damage becomes yours. One week before closing is ideal. If the seller had agreed to make repairs or replace anything, this is the time to make sure it was done. A week will give the seller more time to finish your requests or negotiate a solution before closing. You can take another walk-through 24 hours before closing to make sure everything is done to your satisfaction.
What To Expect – Most home buying contracts state the property only needs to be “broom clean”. This type of cleaning varies in many people’s opinion. Your standards of broom clean may be very different from that of the seller. And broom clean just means a light cleaning, not a deep cleaning. Therefore, don’t be too worried if the cleaning is not up to your expectations. You can give it a deep cleaning later. Your goal here is to look for specific flagged items from the seller’s disclosure form, your home inspection report and the buyer’s contract.
Look for items that the seller agreed to fix or replace, if any. Also look for anything the seller left behind that you don’t want there. Test the appliances to make sure they are in working order, and try the heating and air if not on.
Problem Areas – If you find a problem that the seller said they would fix or replace and they have not done it yet, contact your agent to discuss further actions that can be taken. Is it big enough to cancel closing over? Small things like dirty carpets can be an easy fix, but pet odors or rips in the carpet can be much more costly.
This information provided by: Erika Rogers – Your real estate resource guide. Serving St. George UT and surrounding communities.
Originally posted at: http://livinginstgeorge.com/2014/03/11/home-buying-tips-the-final-walk-through/
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