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A final walk-through inspection is an inspection by a buyer of real property, and/or his or her real estate agent or other representative, that allows for a final examination of the property prior to closing. A walk-through inspection is not the same as a home inspection, which is conducted much earlier in the real estate purchase process by a professional home inspector.
A walk-through inspection is usually done the day of closing or, at most, within a few days prior. The primary purpose of a walk-through inspection is to ascertain that the property being transferred is in the same condition as the buyer agreed to buy it, that no aspect of the property is in a condition worse than what the buyer expected, and that any agreed-upon changes or repairs have been taken care of by the seller of the property.
A walk-through inspection may occur when the seller of the property has already vacated the premises, or when the seller is still at least partially in possession of the property. If a seller has vacated the property some time prior to closing, a walk-through inspection is particularly important, since problems may occur when a home sits vacant for too long of a period of time, including termite infestation and water problems.
During a walk-through inspection, a buyer should document any problems he or she observes in writing; photographs also are a good idea. This type of documentation may be needed as proof if a dispute later arises regarding the agreed-upon condition of the property and the actual condition at the time of transfer, if they are different; tangible documentation is of particular importance in the event that the dispute results in litigation.
If the buyer of the property discovers during the walk-through inspection that something is missing, such as a light fixture, appliance, or window covering that was specified as being included in the transfer or the property, the buyer must have his or her real estate agent or attorney contact the agent for the seller of the property to request that the seller return the item. A seller may either return the actual item or offer a cash credit to the buyer, applied against the purchase price of the property, in an amount equal to the cost of replacement of the item.
Sometimes, the removal of an item will result in damage to the property itself. For example, removal of a lighting fixture by a seller may result in a hole in the wall or ceiling where the fixture was previously secured. Again, in this situation the buyer should have his or her agent or attorney contact the seller´s agent to request replacement of the item that was taken or a credit against the purchase price in an amount required to purchase a replacement item and/or repair the damage resulting from removal thereof.
Sometimes, following a professional home inspection, the buyer and the seller will come to an agreement about maintenance and repairs that are to be done to the property by the seller prior to the closing and transfer of the property to the buyer. If repairs have not been done by the time of the walk-through inspection, or if the repairs required have been done in an unacceptable or unprofessional way, it is usually too close to closing by that time for the seller to remediate the lack of agreed maintenance or to redo any repairs. In such situations, the buyer´s agent should contact the seller´s agent to request a credit against the purchase price of the home in the amount necessary to pay for professional repairs to be done of the types specified in the purchase agreement that the seller did not accomplish.
If a seller is not cooperative in resolving problems found during the walk-through inspection, the buyer may choose to bring a lawsuit to compel the seller to act or to require the seller to pay a monetary sum to the buyer to account for the problems discovered during the walk-through. Buyers should weigh the importance of the particular issue against the potential problems associated with bringing a claim, including a potential delay in possession of the property.
Gbrey
Be sure that:
§ Repairs you´ve requested have been made. Obtain copies of paid bills and any related warranties.
§ All items that were included in the sale price-draperies, lighting fixtures-are still there.
§ Screens and storm windows are in place or stored.
§ All appliances are operating.
§ Intercom, doorbell, and alarm are operational.
§ Hot water heater is working.
§ HVAC is working.
§ No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard.
§ Garage door opener and other remotes are available.
§ Instruction books and warranties on appliances and fixtures are there.
§ All personal items of the sellers and all debris have been removed.
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