What is Pre-closing Walk Through When Buying a House in Arizona?
Pre-closing walk through or final walk through is your second last of home buying process in Arizona before you officially become homeowner. Sometimes buyer can feel that pre-closing walk through is redundant or unnecessary and buyers are tempted to skip it completely. However the final walk through should remain a priority as part of your home buying process.
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on pexels
What is the Pre-closing walk through
A final walk-through is an opportunity for homebuyer, to visit and assess the property you are buying before the closing. The purpose of the final walk through is to ensure the house you are buying is in the same condition you agreed upon in the contract. The final walk-through also allows the buyer to make sure that the seller has made any repairs they promised to make. Final walkthroughs are not home inspections. They are not a time to begin negotiations with the seller to do repairs or add a contingency to the sale.
When is the best time to schedule my walk through?
Usually, you want to schedule your walk through as close to the COE as you can, so that you see your new home at the last minute as possible. That way you can lessen the chance of any new damage happening before closing. In the Phoenix real estate market, for example, it’s most common to do a walk through 24 hours before closing.
How long does a walk-through take?
The duration of the walk-through is up to you. Generally speaking, prepare to take the time necessary to carefully evaluate the home. I always recommend my buyer client to schedule at least an hour and a half — sometimes longer.
Who should attend the walk through?
The buyer and buyer’s agent should attend the walk through. You want to make sure everything is in working order as expected, and there is nothing has gone wrong as the result of the former owner vacating the property. If any repairs were supposed to be made as a condition of the sale, you want to make sure that they have been completed. It is important to do a final walk through to make sure that everything in the property is exactly the way you saw it from the very beginning when you make the offer.
What can I expect during my walk through?
Sometimes, after seller had removed their belongings and the house is totally vacated, it can be startlingly different or it can be a pleasant surprise for the buyer. You may realize rooms are bigger without the seller’s furniture or clutter. Alternatively, you might notice things that were hidden by the seller’s belongings that could violate your contract or make you want to make additional negotiations.
What should I look for during my walk through?
During the final walk-through, you are looking for anything that is out of order, something out of the ordinary, or repairs that have not been made. In general, you want to make sure that all of the seller’s belongings are out of the house and anything that was included in the sale is still there. Negotiated repairs have been completed and seller has left behind warranties and receipts for the work. Make sure there aren’t any new problems or damages to the home, especially damage done during the move-out process. Make sure that the seller does leave any necessary keys, garage door openers, mailbox key and other essentials to the functions of the home.
Make sure everything works
Test all the kitchen appliances and turn on both the air conditioning and the heating to make sure they are working. Turn all light switches on and off to ensure lights, exhaust fans and ceiling fans are working. Run the water in all the sinks, flush toilets and there are no plumbing leaks.
What happens if I discover issue during walk through?
If there are issues found during a walkthrough, it’s incumbent on the seller to work with the buyer to find a solution that meets the purchase contract. While buyers can back out if they find that the home isn’t up to the standards stipulated in the purchase agreement, cancel the purchase should only be done as an absolute last resort – nobody wins if you back out of a closing as this step. There are alternatives available to complete the transaction.
The Bottom Line
A final walk-through is one of the most important step in the home buying process. The final walk through is your last chance to make sure the home is ready for you. Make sure you know what to look for to ensure that what you have agreed to purchase is what you are getting.
Swee Ng, Realtor and Phoenix East Valley resident specializing in win-win real estate transaction through great communication and fighting for his clients’ best interest. After all, this is more than real estates, this is about your life and your dreams.
If you are looking to buy or sell your home in Phoenix AZ and surrounding area, we hope you will consider us. Contact us today for complimentary consultation.
New Listings in Last 24 hour Phoenix AZ
Search and view your dream home your way
Receive email alert as soon as a property matching your criteria hits the market. Be one of the first to see new listings. Simply type in everything you want in a house and save your search here to be notified.
