{"id":23855,"date":"2021-05-18T14:19:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T21:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=23855"},"modified":"2021-05-18T14:19:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T21:19:43","slug":"buyer-should-i-arrive-early-to-a-final-walkthrough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-should-i-arrive-early-to-a-final-walkthrough\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Mistakes Buyers Make During the Final Walkthrough (And What to Do Instead!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve found the perfect house, made your way through the whole homebuying process<\/a>, and now it\u2019s almost time to close on your new home. All that\u2019s left to do before closing is the final walkthrough, and you\u2019re probably very excited! So excited, in fact, you might think about arriving early to the walkthrough. So, should you arrive early? Well\u2026no, actually, you shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Arriving early is just one of the mistakes buyers often make when it comes to the final walkthrough<\/a>. And while it might not seem like a big deal to go through the house one last time before you sign the final paperwork, it\u2019s actually a very important part of the homebuying process \u2014 it\u2019s your last chance to identify any issues before they become your<\/i> problem entirely.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll talk about why arriving early is a mistake and share other stumbles buyers make in the final walkthrough, with insight from top real estate professionals, as well as tips on all the things you should <\/i>do as a buyer.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Alex Otto \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mistake: Arriving early<\/h2>\n

We get it. It\u2019s so exciting to be at the final stages of your home purchase, you might be tempted to show up for that final walkthrough hours before you\u2019re actually supposed to be there. But there are good reasons to avoid showing up too early.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

Sellers sometimes have last-minute cleaning or moving to do, and showing up early isn\u2019t appreciated, as the house might not be quite ready yet.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to remember that the final walkthrough is intentionally scheduled as close to the actual closing as possible, so showing up early kind of defeats the purpose.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

Arrive at the scheduled time \u2014 or maybe five minutes early, which is perfectly acceptable.<\/p>\n

Mistake: Not bringing your agent<\/h2>\n

Showing up without an agent to guide you through the walkthrough is a big no-no on many levels, and not just because you need their expertise.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

Buyers, especially first-time buyers, can sometimes get a little starry-eyed in their eagerness to get settled in their new home. Your agent is there to keep you on track, and they can help you make sure that all agreed-upon repairs are taken care of and the home is in good order.<\/p>\n

In some states, there are also potential legal repercussions for not bringing your agent with you. California real estate agent Mark Moskowitz<\/a>, who has nearly 30 years\u2019 experience in the business, says that bringing your agent isn\u2019t just crucial for buyers \u2014 it’s required.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuyers cannot show up to the final walkthrough by themselves in California,\u201d he says. \u201cTheir agent must be with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

Bring your agent!<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll appreciate having a professional with you who knows what to look for during that final walkthrough<\/a>, and you won\u2019t have to worry that you might\u2019ve missed something.<\/p>\n

\"an<\/a>
Source: ( Kelly Sikkema \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mistake: Forgetting to bring an outlet-checker<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s nothing worse than moving into a house after closing and realizing that several of the electrical outlets don\u2019t work. Once you sign your closing documents<\/a>, you won\u2019t have a lot of options insofar as addressing these kinds of issues.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t bring something to check the electrical outlets in the house, there\u2019s really no way for you to know if they work properly. And if part of any repair agreements includes specifics on electrical issues, it\u2019s important to be able to check outlets.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

You don\u2019t have to bring a fancy piece of equipment to check outlets. A hair dryer, your phone charger, anything that plugs into an outlet will work just fine.<\/p>\n

Take your time during the walkthrough to make sure all outlets are working, and talk to your agent about options for getting them repaired prior to closing if any don\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

Mistake: Planning furniture layout instead of paying attention to home condition<\/h2>\n

Will that new couch fit in the living room? Should you bring a tape measure so you can figure out where it should go?<\/p>\n

Probably not. This isn\u2019t the time for mentally arranging furniture.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

The final walkthrough is your last chance to make sure the home\u2019s condition is the same as it was when you first looked at it. After closing takes place, any problems are your <\/i>responsibility. You have all the time in the world to rearrange the furniture.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

Follow your agent\u2019s lead and pay attention to what kind of shape the house is in, making sure that any repairs were completed and there has been no new damage to the home.<\/p>\n

Remember, it isn\u2019t your house until you sign off at closing, so try to remain a little detached when you do your walkthrough<\/a>, and concentrate on the real reasons why you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

Mistake: Forgetting to bring the purchase agreement and\/or request for repairs agreement<\/h2>\n

When you get your home inspection, there are usually at least a few items that you\u2019ll negotiate to have repaired prior to closing.<\/p>\n

But wait\u2026was it the second bedroom closet door that needed fixing? Did you want that dripping faucet repaired? Do you remember everything you negotiated?<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

You may want to refer to either the purchase agreement<\/a> or the request for repairs during the inspection, and if you don\u2019t have them with you, you won\u2019t be able to verify which repairs were supposed to be completed, or double-check any other stipulations that might have been part of the purchase agreement.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

Bring copies of all pertinent documentation with you. You or your agent should have received proof (usually in the form of receipts) of any repairs that were completed, and you\u2019ll want to check that against the repair agreement, purchase agreement, and the actual repairs.<\/p>\n

\"Wood<\/a>
Source: (Francisco Galarza \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mistake: Neglecting to check for moving damage<\/h2>\n

Whether they\u2019ve hired movers or are doing it themselves, occasionally a seller move-out can leave behind items that require repair.<\/p>\n

Sometimes buyers get so caught up in making sure any agreed-upon repairs are complete, they don\u2019t take the time to look for new damage.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

While a scratched floor or ding in the wall might seem minimal, it is damage that you will be responsible for fixing if you don\u2019t discover it during the final walkthrough<\/a>. If you don\u2019t want to have to take care of fixing things that got broken or scratched during the seller\u2019s move-out, you need to look for these things prior to closing.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

Again, this is where having an experienced real estate professional makes all the difference because they know exactly what to look for and how to resolve it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s a legitimate problem, I wouldn\u2019t close until it\u2019s resolved, either by having it repaired, or putting funds in escrow to cover the damage,\u201d says Moskowitz.<\/p>\n

Mistake: Thinking this is the time to seek out new repairs needed on the home<\/h2>\n

According to Moskowitz, one of the biggest mistakes buyers make during the final walkthrough is thinking that they can fully re-inspect the home and potentially find new repairs that need to be done.<\/p>\n

Why is it a mistake?<\/h3>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a time to renegotiate repairs,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour opportunity to request repairs comes after the initial home inspection. During the walkthrough, you\u2019re simply checking to make sure the home is in the agreed-upon condition, and that there isn\u2019t new damage.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Moskowitz says that contractually, buyers can\u2019t stop the closing just because they see something they don\u2019t like during the final walkthrough. This is especially true in a seller\u2019s market, where a seller might have several back-up offers on the table. \u201cTrying to delay closing over something that wasn\u2019t ever part of the repair agreement might end up backfiring on the buyer,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

What to do instead<\/h3>\n

If you find new damage, or if there is existing damage that wasn\u2019t disclosed during the inspection, you do have some recourse.<\/p>\n

The key, says Moskowitz, is understanding that this is a business negotiation. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to have an emotional reaction to things,\u201d he says. \u201cCommunicate, don\u2019t get upset, and you\u2019ll likely be able to come to some kind of agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The final walkthrough<\/a> is definitely an exciting time, and it should be! This is the culmination of hours of house-hunting, making sure your credit is in order, finding a mortgage lender, and jumping through all the hoops that come with purchasing a home. Not letting yourself get overwhelmed with worries about new repairs that might need to be addressed, as well as not letting yourself get too caught up in dreaming about kitchen paint colors and missing things during the walkthrough, is really the key to a productive final walkthrough.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, however, having a professional real estate agent who not only helps you find your new home, but also takes you all the way through to that final walkthrough, can help you feel secure about your investment. Then you can arrive at the closing table with confidence!<\/p>\n

Header Image Source: ( Roger Starnes Sr \/ Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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