Should I do a final walk-through?

Yes. Arrange a final walkthrough with your agent close to closing so you can check the property's condition before completing the purchase. Bring the agreed repair list and confirm that included appliances and fixtures remain, repairs appear complete and there hasn't been new damage. For technical repairs, a qualified professional may need to verify the work. If something is wrong, document it and have your agent and closing team review the agreement before you proceed. Don't rely on a verbal promise that it will be handled afterward. If the seller will stay after closing under a written agreement, still check the condition before closing and arrange another check when possession transfers. Austin Moore Broker/Owner, Austin Moore & Company Real Estate Realtor in Longview, Texas

Yes, without exception, and do it as close to closing as you can get. Same day is ideal. This is your last moment of leverage, and after you sign, essentially everything becomes your problem. The answers above cover why. Here is how to actually run one, because most buyers walk through in six minutes and look at nothing. Confirm the utilities are on before you go. Sellers sometimes cut power, water and gas the day they move out, and if the electricity is off you cannot test anything. Have your agent confirm with the listing agent that everything stays on through closing. Then work a punch list, in this order. Run every system. Turn on the furnace and the air conditioning, even out of season. Run every faucet and flush every toilet. Open and close the garage door with the remote. Test the disposal. Run the dishwasher for a minute. Open every window that is supposed to open. Look at what the furniture was hiding. This is the big one. A staged and furnished house conceals damaged flooring, holes in walls, stains and missing outlet covers. An empty house tells the truth, and you are seeing it empty for the first time. Look for moving damage. Gouged walls, scratched floors, a torn screen, a broken banister. It happens constantly and it was not there at inspection. Verify the agreed repairs, with receipts. If the seller agreed to fix the water heater, ask for the invoice and look at the work. "It is done" is not verification. Confirm what was supposed to stay is still there. Appliances, light fixtures, window coverings, the mounted TV bracket, anything written into the contract. Fixtures get taken more often than you would think, sometimes honestly. Check that the trash and belongings are gone. You would be amazed what gets left in garages and crawlspaces, and hauling it becomes your cost. Photograph and video everything, timestamped, as you go. Two minutes of phone video is the difference between a conversation and a dispute. Now, when something is wrong. You have three realistic options and it helps to know them before you are standing there upset. Delay closing until it is fixed. Strongest position, most disruptive, and it can affect your rate lock and your movers. Negotiate a credit at closing. Fastest and most common. The seller pays you at settlement and you handle it. Escrow holdback. A portion of the seller's proceeds is held after closing until the work is done. Cleanest for bigger items, but it needs your lender and the title company to agree, and not all of them will. Ask early if you think you might need it. What the walk-through is not: a second inspection, or a chance to reopen items you already accepted. Raise a new complaint about a thing you knew about at inspection and you will get nowhere, fairly. This is from 2021 but nothing here has changed. I am a real estate professional in Los Angeles and the South Bay, and I am glad to help you find a good agent wherever you are buying. Zoltan Peresztegi, Los Angeles and South Bay real estate professional

Absolutely, you want to make sure the home is just as it was when you first toured it. Not doing a walkthrough leaves you open to financial liabilities outside your control that can prove disastrous. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Yes, always do it. The final walk-through is your last chance to make sure the house is in the same condition and any agreed repairs were actually done. Check that nothing changed, nothing was damaged during move-out, and everything that was supposed to stay is still there. It’s quick, but it protects you from surprises right before closing.

Yes. The final walkthrough is your last chance to verify the property is in the condition you agreed to before you take ownership. The walkthrough typically happens 24 to 48 hours before closing. You're checking that the seller has moved out, that any agreed-upon repairs have been completed, that no new damage has occurred since the inspection, and that all fixtures, appliances, and items included in the contract are still there. Turn on every faucet, flush every toilet, check every light switch, open the garage door, run the HVAC, and look at every room. If something is wrong, this is your last opportunity to address it before closing. Once you sign and take ownership, the seller's obligations are effectively done. If you find issues during the walkthrough, your agent can negotiate a resolution before closing, whether that's a credit, a repair, or a delay until the issue is fixed. Skipping the walkthrough means you're accepting whatever condition the property is in when you get the keys, and you lose your leverage to hold the seller accountable.

Yes. The final walkthrough is your last chance to verify the property is in the condition you agreed to before you take ownership. The walkthrough typically happens 24 to 48 hours before closing. You're checking that the seller has moved out, that any agreed-upon repairs have been completed, that no new damage has occurred since the inspection, and that all fixtures, appliances, and items included in the contract are still there. Turn on every faucet, flush every toilet, check every light switch, open the garage door, run the HVAC, and look at every room. If something is wrong, this is your last opportunity to address it before closing. Once you sign and take ownership, the seller's obligations are effectively done. If you find issues during the walkthrough, your agent can negotiate a resolution before closing, whether that's a credit, a repair, or a delay until the issue is fixed. Skipping the walkthrough means you're accepting whatever condition the property is in when you get the keys, and you lose your leverage to hold the seller accountable.

Yes—a final walk‑through is an important part of the closing process. It usually takes place within a day or two of settlement and gives you the opportunity to make sure the property is in the same condition as when you agreed to buy it. You can verify that any agreed‑upon repairs were completed, that the sellers have removed their belongings, and that no damage has occurred since your inspection. During the walk‑through you and your agent should check that the heat, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems are still working, appliances are present if they were included in the sale, and that the home is free of debris. Bringing along your inspection report and contract can be helpful to reference specific items. A walk‑through is not a time to negotiate new items, but if you find something significant—like a missing appliance or new damage—you can work with your agent and closing attorney to address it before funds are disbursed. Skipping the walk‑through means you accept the property “as‑is,” so it’s generally wise to take the time for this final step to protect your investment.

Definitely do a final walkthrough. You want to make sure the house is in the same condition and nothing changed. I have seen some crazy things at a final walkthrough.

Yes. Have your Realtor go with you a couple days before closing. Make sur nothing has been switched concerning appliances, window treatments and light fixtures. This keeps everyone on the same page. As Ronald Reagan said.....Trust everyone, but investigate.

Hello Mike, the answer is YES, contact me I can explain better over the phone - Alfred

Yes, you should complete a final walkthrough the morning of closing. Not a day or two before, but the morning of closing. I have seen it all: overnight flood, seller hadn't started packing, spraypainted walls.... If the seller agreed to fix or replace electrical or plumbing issues, it is a very good idea to have a certified electrician or plumber double-check the work before closing.

YES. I recommend doing a walk through. There is always a chance you find something wrong. Like a missing appliance. Better to catch it prior to closing.

Depends on when you are actually taking possession. If the seller is to remain in possession after close of escrow (rentback), then you should wait until the date the seller is to vacate the home and do your walk through then. You want to be sure there was no damage done during the sellers move as well as check that items to be included in the sale, are there. Once you've done the walk through, you can refund the seller's deposit or submit damages to be reimbursed, to escrow holder.

I actually always do the walk through a couple of days before the close of escrow date to allow us (my client and I) to communicate any issues with the listing side and seek resolution before the close of escrow. Waiting until the day of the COE would be too late, especially if there's a need to call up an professional or to show the problems to the listing side. Once the escrow is close, it's very difficult to resolve.

Hey Mike! Absolutely recommend a final walkthrough on the day of closing. It is your last opportunity to verify that the condition of property is still the same, that any/all of the agreed upon appliances/fixtures/window treatments etc are still in the home and also good to see that all of the sellers personal belongings have been removed. It is no fun to inherit a garage full of junk that is hard to get rid of. If you don't get possession at close it's still great to do your final walk through and snap a few pics of the condition just in case there's a quesiton a month later when you do take possession.

Yes. You should do a final walkthrough the day of the closing to make sure the property is in the same condition it was at the time you made the offer. If you fail to do so, you assume responsibility of the home as is once you sign your closing documents. If you can not do it the day of, do it as close to the closing as possible.