The Final Walk-Through

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I've posted on this subject before, but it's definitely a topic worth of revisiting. The final walk-through can be a super fun event. It's honestly my favorite part of the home buying process, if all goes well. But what exactly is the final walk-through? In a nutshell it's your chance to make sure the house is in the same condition it was in when you agreed to purchase the home, prior to signing the closing papers. It is not to find anything new.

The final walk-through typically happens after the seller has moved out of the home. So obviously this can be done at anytime prior to closing, that said, about 95% of ours happen either the night before closing or the morning of. Conducting a final walk-through is your right per lines 360-362 of the purchase agreement in Minnesota.

360. Buyer has the right to walk-through review of the property prior to closing to
361. that the property is in substantially the same condition as of the date of
362. this purchase agreement.

The seller also agrees on lines 271 and 272 of the purchase agreement to remove all debris and personal property prior to closing.

271. Seller agrees to REMOVE ALL DEBRIS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY NOT INCLUDED HERE from the property
272. prior to possession date.

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What to look for on your final walk-through

1. Overall condition of the home. All personal property and debris must be removed. The house should be completely empty and broom clean unless you previously agreed that something could be left behind. Typical items that are left behind but shouldn't be are; old paint cans, random items in the garage rafters and outdoor planters. Unless it is attached to the house it needs to be removed.
2. Check to make sure there are no huge holes in the walls and that everything that was supposed to stay per the purchase agreement is indeed still there.
3. Inspection items. If you asked for anything to be fixed or completed prior to closing, double check that it has been done.
4. Turn on the water, flush the toilets and check to make sure the appliances are all still there, the same ones that were there when you wrote the purchase agreement and that they work.
5. Check the windows and the doors and make sure the keys work.
6. Open and shut the garage door and make sure the garage door openers are on the property.
7. Check the yard, front and back, if it's not covered in snow. Make sure no plants/landscaping are missing and nothing has been left behind a bush or behind the garage.
8. As stated earlier the house should be broom clean. Broom clean homes at a minimum are free of all personal belongings and debris and have been swept or vacuumed. What we have learned through the years is that everyone has a different definition of what clean means so you will need to use your best judgement here.

What to do if you have a problem during the final walk-through

Talk it over with your Realtor and explore your options. The majority of the time the issues can be resolved prior to closing. Worst case scenario the closing gets delayed while you wait for an issue to be resolved.

The bottom line: this is your last chance to spot and resolve issues prior to closing, so never skip the final walk through. If you can't make it have your Realtor go in your place or send a trusted friend or parent.

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As always, from all of us here at Matt Engen Group, thanks for reading!

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If you have questions about buying or selling be sure to connect with us here.

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