By Mel Dorman, September 1, 2020
You’ve almost made it to closing. You’re exhausted and can’t believe you’ve almost made it to the finish line. But there is one last, seemingly minor, thing: the final walk-through. Is it a big deal? The seller seemed so nice and, you think, “I’m sure everything is in order.” Is it worth your time to walk through the home one last time?
The final walk-through, while tedious, is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to wrap up the transaction and remind your clients that you have been there until the bitter end. Secondly, it protects you from finding out too late that something was awry, such as a hole in the wall from the seller moving furniture out, a missing appliance, or junk left in the garage. Finding these things after closing would be not only devastating to your clients, but you’d likely be stuck without a good solution since it would be too late to have the seller correct them. Your only option would be formal mediation or legal proceedings. Spare yourself the stress, do the right thing, and walk through the home before closing with your clients! Lastly, if your clients are practising “social distancing,” you can do a video tour or send photos of any finished repairs, appliances, and landscaping.
One buyer closed on a home recently and found that the knob on the dryer had been switched out with a knob from the oven! These things are easy to miss during the walk-through, so be attentive and you won’t regret it.
Mel Dorman
Broker | OR & WA
She/They
Ten years ago, Melissa was living in a slum in Kolkata, India, helping over 200 women escape sex trafficking by providing alternative work at a social business...
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