![\"Shoes](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/final-walkthrough-problems-shoes-666x381.png\")
<\/a>Why the final walkthrough is so important to have before closing<\/h2>\n
A final walkthrough is the final checking of the home before signing all of the important documents and contracts to make the sale official. According to reports from EllieMae, on average, it takes about 47 days from start to finish to close on a home purchase<\/a>. It is a buyer\u2019s final chance to make sure everything\u2019s set and nothing goes against the contract. If there\u2019s a final walkthrough problem, that could delay \u2014 or even kill \u2014 a deal.<\/p>\n \u201cFinal walkthroughs are not required. From a liability standpoint you\u2019ll always want to. The closer to closing, the better. It\u2019s the agent\u2019s responsibility to schedule it,\u201d said James Roehrenbeck<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Columbus, Ohio<\/a>, who has sold more than 66% more properties in Columbus than the average agent.<\/p>\n A final walkthrough is not a home inspection<\/a>. That\u2019s when a buyer hires an inspector<\/a> to come to the house and visually check it out. Inspectors are the people who make sure the home is in accordance with the state\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n \u201cI always recommend a home inspection,\u201d Roehrenbeck said. From radon to termites, home inspections will not only save the buyer a lot of grief and money but protect against liability issues in the long run.<\/p>\n A final walkthrough is your chance to make sure any changes during an inspection actually got made. It\u2019s the best bet you\u2019ll have for discovering any defects or issues in the home before you make this important buying decision.<\/p>\n Typically in a real estate contract<\/a>, \u201cyou have two days before closing to go through the property,\u201d Roehrenbeck explains. \u201cOn the final walkthrough, you want to check to make sure those items are completed, and also [that] the home\u2019s in the same condition as when you made the offer<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Unexpected obstacles can pop up and delay a closing<\/a>. To make things easier for everybody involved, we\u2019ve included a list of the top 11 walkthrough problems and what to do if any arise before closing on a house.<\/p>\n This is one reason why it\u2019s good to do the final walkthrough. If you\u2019ve discussed this with the seller, they shouldn\u2019t rush and forget to remove things.<\/p>\n You could get a credit (in other words, money) if you have to remove things yourself that you haven\u2019t agreed to keep.<\/p>\n Once, prior to closing on a home, Roehrenbeck explains that someone broke in and took one of the appliances \u2014 and was in the process of taking another appliance.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we wouldn\u2019t have done that final walkthrough, the insurance would not have covered that,\u201d he says. \u201cBecause their question was, \u2018How do we know that that wasn\u2019t done prior to you buying the home?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n This means that the seller hasn\u2019t cleaned, swept, vacuumed, and made sure the house is clear of debris. It\u2019s their obligation to make sure the house is \u201cbroom clean,\u201d especially if it\u2019s in the contract.<\/p>\n If a seller has promised you that something broken would be fixed, or you have an agreement to remedy an issue, it\u2019s important to follow up and make sure the seller fulfilled their part of the bargain. This can also be a negotiation leverage point if repairs weren\u2019t made at the expected time.<\/p>\n Ideally, you would have tinkered with these when you were first touring the house. Roehrenbeck highly recommends running the water in the bathroom and kitchen as you\u2019re walking through.<\/p>\n Utilities should be on during a final walkthrough so you can test and make sure everything works.<\/b> You won\u2019t know if there\u2019s a short circuit somewhere or a bigger issue if the seller has shut off utilities before the final walkthrough.<\/p>\n Plumbing issues are hard to see, but they will be extremely expensive to fix. Electrical issues should also be taken seriously, as there could be a possibility of fire or electrocution if something\u2019s not right. It\u2019s a good idea to hire a plumber and electrician to check for any possible issues if you have concerns.<\/p>\n A leaking faucet can significantly run up water bills. This is why you want to run the water to check for leaks beforehand \u2014 so you don\u2019t open yourself to a lot of liability.<\/p>\n Mold removal and water damage can cost thousands of dollars<\/a> to fix. If there are signs of severe water damage, you may have to bring in a professional.<\/p>\n Minor issues, such as a mark on the wall or a scuff on the floor, can be fixed. You can also request that any damage be repaired or ask for a credit to fix the issue when you own the house.<\/p>\n But if there are stains in the carpet, deep scratches in the floor, or damage to door frames requiring major repairs, it\u2019s possible that the damage will delay the closing process while you negotiate with the seller.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s debris or trash left outside, you could get fined by the city. Or there could be something left outside that you didn\u2019t sign off on, such as outdoor furniture or decorations. Talk with the seller and your agent if there\u2019s something left that you didn\u2019t agree to so you won\u2019t have to delay closing.<\/p>\n The National Association of Home Builders says an HVAC system should last you over 10 years. But that doesn\u2019t mean little things won\u2019t break over time. Test the heating and cooling to make sure everything is still working as well as when the home inspector took a look.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething’s not working right or something\u2019s leaking, and first call they’ll make, it’s gonna be to the Realtor,\u201d Roehrenbeck says.<\/p>\n If necessary, you may need to make a second call to your insurance company.<\/p>\n No matter how small the issue is, you should request receipts that say what, exactly, has been completed. If there is something major that hasn\u2019t been fixed, you might want to postpone the closing altogether.<\/p>\n If the seller agreed to make repairs, you can hold the money to pay for those repair fees or construction materials. You want to be prepared for any additional costs, too; closing costs make up between 2% and 5% of the home\u2019s purchase price<\/a>, according to the National Association of Realtors.<\/p>\n \u201cThe seller has three recourses: They can say, \u2018I\u2019ll fix what you want me to fix, I won\u2019t fix anything, or we\u2019ll compromise,\u2019\u201d Roehrenbeck explains.<\/p>\n If the seller refuses to compromise, you can back out of the deal. You have that right. \u201cThat happens probably 5% to 10% of the time, and it\u2019s usually due to home inspection or it\u2019s due to an appraisal issue<\/a>,\u201d Roehrenbeck says. So losing out on the house at final walkthrough doesn\u2019t happen all that often \u2014 but it does happen.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not comfortable with how the seller is handling the final walkthrough problems, you should seriously consider walking away.<\/p>\n This is the ultimate route when things have really gone awry. A closing attorney can protect you and your assets. They will tackle any legal disputes and can identify any issues. Search the bar association website<\/a> or talk to your agent to find the best real estate attorneys in your area.<\/p>\n![\"Brooms](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/final-walkthrough-problems-broom-666x381.png\")
<\/a>11 final walkthrough problems<\/h2>\n
1. There\u2019s still stuff in the house that shouldn\u2019t be there.<\/h4>\n
2. Or there are things that were supposed to be there \u2014 but aren\u2019t.<\/h4>\n
3. It\u2019s not \u2018broom clean.\u2019<\/h4>\n
4. Repairs haven\u2019t been made.<\/h4>\n
5. Appliances aren\u2019t working.<\/h4>\n
6. The utilities have been shut off.<\/h4>\n
7. There\u2019s a plumbing or electrical issue.<\/h4>\n
8. There\u2019s mold or evidence of a water leak that you didn\u2019t see before.<\/h4>\n
9. There\u2019s damage from the move out.<\/h4>\n
10. There\u2019s something wrong outside.<\/h4>\n
11. Heating and cooling systems are wonky.<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>This walkthrough did not go as planned. What now?<\/h2>\n
1. First things first: call your agent.<\/h3>\n
2. Don\u2019t close until everything\u2019s fixed and you have the documents<\/a> that prove it.<\/h3>\n
3. Hold back money in escrow for any repairs.<\/h3>\n
4. Renegotiate with the seller.<\/h3>\n
5. Walk away.<\/h3>\n
6. Take legal action<\/a>.<\/h3>\n