Who does the final walk-thru when the buyer is out of town? It's fairly common for buyers to close on the home they are purchasing while out of town and in some cases, out of the country. A final walk is an opportunity for the buyer to see the home one last time before attending closing. The home should be in the same condition as it was when the offer was executed minus normal wear and tear.
Some of the more common problems I've witnessed include sellers leaving behind heavy trash next to the curb such as a giant ugly mattress, furniture and open bags of trash blowing all over the street. There's also a percentage of home sellers who see no problem with leaving behind a few personal belongings that they simply didn't fee like going back to pick-up.
So, should the Realtor representing the buyer perform the final walk-thru if the buyer is not available? What about the possible consequences if the buyer notices something the buyers agent didn't catch? In Texas, attics are pretty universal. In fact, I've never seen a home without one. Attics can be ridiculously hot, humid and especially awkward to move about. What if the Realtor who performed the courtesy walk didn't quite catch what a seller left behind?
Having been a property manager I can tell you first hand to never underestimate what a seller could "accidentally" leave behind. One time I found a box of human ashes under the kitchen sink. In that same house I found a dagger, shield and leather mask; all very expensive items that the seller intentionally left behind. The items belonged to her late husband who was apparently a big fan of the Renaissance festival. And the ashes? She refused to claim them. In short, I had my hands full.
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