Uh-Oh, Honey, I think we just bought a house!

The final walkthrough deserves as much attention as the earlier steps in your purchase. Use our pre-closing checklist to review repairs, test systems, and spot changes before taking ownership.

Nice Job!  You have made the decision to purchase a new home. You have been pre-approved for a mortgage. You have worked with real estate professionals to find the right house, get the inspection, get through attorney’s approval and are waiting to close escrow on the house of your dreams. You are doing this!  This is an exciting time. If you are working with a real estate agent, they have probably gone through a checklist of items to ensure that all the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed. Keep your eye on the ball. It is easy to get excited about decorating your new home, landscaping, and other things that you do when you move in. There is one last thing that you should be diligent with. The final walk through.

As a home inspection company, we periodically get calls from upset homeowners that something is not working or is wrong with their new home. Too often, these problems were not present at the original inspection, but have cropped up during the 45-60 days between the home inspection and closing. We often find that the things that are wrong could have been found prior to closing if the home buyers had simply slowed down and done a thorough walk-through of their property before the closing. Below are some suggestions for performing a thorough walk-through.

Check the Electrical system

Turn on lights in all rooms. Bring along an outlet tester or bring along your cell phone charger to ensure that all the electrical outlets are working. Verify that the security system, doorbells, and garage doors are working.

Run the HVAC system

One of the first things you will use when you move in will be the Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). Too often, these systems fail unexpectedly. We recommend that if weather permits, you check both heating and air conditioning at the final walk through. Check heat registers (or radiators) to feel heat entering the home. Go to the exterior air conditioning unit and make sure that at least the fan is running. Better yet, listen to determine if the compressor is running. You should feel cool air coming out of the registers inside the home, and very likely warm air blowing out the top or sides of the outdoor unit (the condenser).

Testing the HVAC System Before You Close

Check all of the home’s appliances and other mechanical systems. Is there hot water? Does the dishwasher drain? Does the clothes dryer heat? Most important, is the sump pump working?

All these items are easy to check. Do not be rushed through with the assumption that nothing has changed.

What is that stain?

Look at walls, floors and ceilings for stains that were not present at the inspection or any previous walk-throughs. Stains can indicate water leaks, mold growth, or other issues.

Look closely in the bathrooms

Bathrooms are where a lot of problems start. Since the bulk of a home’s water usage is in the bathrooms, leaks, mold, and other problems often show up there first. Make sure the toilets flush!

Look outside

Take a walk around outside the home. Look for loose siding or trim, damaged, or missing roof shingles, and other mechanical damage from trees, bushes, or other vegetation.

Do I need a reinspection if the homeowner had repairs done?

It depends. In our experience, many of the items that the previous homeowner agreed to repair are not done properly or are not repaired at all. It is always a good idea to get paid invoices from the contractors who performed the work. Ideally, the invoices would include a work order stating specifically what work was done. If you are not sure whether the work was done properly, contact your inspector. They may be able to guide you through what to look for.

You are almost at the finish line!

As noted above, this is not a time to let your guard down. Do not get wrapped up in what color you are going to paint Junior’s bedroom. Do that after the closing. We provide a “Pre-closing checklist” that is helpful in performing your walk through. Use the checklist below during your final walk-through.

Pre-Closing Walk-Through Checklist

Use this checklist to compare the property's condition with your inspection findings and purchase agreement. A final walk-through is a practical check of the home, not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Property: ____________________   Date: __________

• ☐ Prepare for the visit. Bring your inspection report, agreed repair list, a phone or camera, and something to take notes. Arrange access with your real estate agent and confirm that utilities are on.
• ☐ Confirm agreed repairs. Compare completed work with the repair agreement. Obtain paid invoices, work descriptions, permits when applicable, and any transferable warranties. Ask your inspector about work you cannot confidently evaluate.
• ☐ Check for new damage. Walk through every room, closet, basement, and accessible storage area. Look for new stains, leaks, broken fixtures, or damage that appeared after the inspection or moving.
• ☐ Verify included items. Confirm that appliances, fixtures, and other items included in the purchase agreement remain at the property. Note any unexpected replacements or missing items.
• ☐ Try normal electrical controls. Turn on lights and check accessible outlets with a plug-in device. Try the doorbell and normal garage-door controls. Do not open electrical panels or touch exposed wiring.
• ☐ Check plumbing. Run faucets, confirm hot water, flush toilets, and watch for visible leaks beneath sinks and around fixtures. Check that drains empty normally.
• ☐ Operate included appliances. Use normal controls to check appliances included in the sale. Allow enough time for a dishwasher to complete a cycle when practical, and watch for leaks.
• ☐ Check heating and cooling. Confirm operation using the thermostat only when weather and manufacturer instructions permit. Avoid running air conditioning in cold weather. Note unusual noises or failure to heat or cool.
• ☐ Review the sump pump. If present, look for standing water and ask for a safe demonstration of pump operation. Do not reach into the pit or handle electrical connections.
• ☐ Check doors and windows. Open and close accessible doors and windows. Check locks and look for broken glass, damaged screens, or changes since the inspection.
• ☐ Walk the exterior. From ground level, look for new storm or moving damage, loose siding, drainage concerns, and damaged steps or railings. Do not climb onto roofs or enter unsafe areas.
• ☐ Confirm access and handover items. Arrange delivery of keys, remotes, access codes, manuals, and warranty paperwork. Confirm the agreed condition for removal of belongings and debris.
• ☐ Record unresolved concerns. Photograph and describe problems. Discuss them with your real estate agent and attorney before closing, and contact Dunsing when inspection-related questions need clarification.

Follow-up notes: ______________________________________________

Questions about an inspection finding or completed repair? Call Dunsing Inspections at 847-367-0782.