The Final Walkthrough: Your Last Line of Defense Before Closing

This day should be exciting — you’re on the home stretch. But don’t let that excitement pull your focus away from the task at hand.

This is a final inspection, not a victory lap. Keep your eyes and ears open from the moment you walk through the door.

1. Inspect the Property Room by Room

We start by working through every room, checking walls and ceilings carefully for:

• Leaks
• Cracks
• Staining
• Anything that’s shifted or changed since our last visit

Water stains, fresh patches of paint in odd places, or hairline cracks that weren’t there before can all signal a problem hiding just beneath the surface.

Chances are the sellers have already moved out by this point. That means we also walk every room to confirm nothing was damaged during the move. A scraped wall, a dented door frame, or a cracked fixture is far easier to address now than after closing.

2. Test Every Appliance

Next, we check every appliance included in the sale. This step is non-negotiable — I want to know with certainty that everything works before my client takes ownership.

Many of the homes we sell come outfitted with high-end, built-in appliances. These are the kind that cost thousands to replace, and even more to special-order. So instead of assuming an appliance works, we test each one individually.

A few examples of what we’re watching for:

• A range that won’t ignite
• A wine fridge that isn’t holding temperature
• A dishwasher that leaks

Any one of these can turn into a costly surprise if it’s discovered after closing instead of before. Catching it now, while there’s still leverage to negotiate a credit or repair, protects my clients from expensive replacements down the road.

3. Confirm Major Systems and Agreed-Upon Repairs

Finally, we walk through all major systems — HVAC, plumbing, and electrical — along with any repairs the seller agreed to complete as part of the contract.

If there was an addendum outlining specific fixes, we go through it item by item to confirm the work was actually done, and done properly, not just checked off on paper. Every party needs to have held up their end of the agreement before anyone signs off on closing.

Why This Step Matters

This is your last real opportunity to catch and remedy anything of concern before the deal is final. Once you close, your leverage disappears.

That’s exactly why having a detailed, diligent agent in your corner on this day isn’t optional — it’s essential to protecting your investment and making sure this milestone is remembered as the win it should be.

-Chris King