Final Walk-Through Prep: Leave It Like We Promised

WE'RE ALMOST THERE! 🎉

Before the buyers close on your house, they'll have one last chance to walk through it and make sure everything is in the condition we agreed upon.

This is called the final walk-through, and it's usually a quick 45-minute pass-through - not another home inspection.

The buyers are essentially asking:

“Is the house still the way it was supposed to be when we agreed to buy it?”

Our goal is to make that answer a very boring YES.

Before the Walk-Through

By this point, you should be completely moved out unless we've agreed otherwise.

We'll make sure any repairs from our PICRA negotiations are finished, gather applicable invoices or receipts, and confirm that everything the buyers may test is still working.

And then: please have the house professionally cleaned.

Technically, our contract may only require the property to be left “broom swept clean.” But after someone has paid you hundreds of thousands of dollars for your house, handing them the keys to dusty baseboards, a questionable refrigerator, and your moving-day debris just feels... rude. 😂

I want the buyers to walk in for their final walk-through and feel excited to move into their new home, not immediately start making a cleaning list.

Think of it as the final little act of hospitality for the people taking over a place that was yours.

Let's Talk About Fixtures...Again

Remember our conversation about fixtures vs. personal property?

A fixture is generally something permanently attached to the house - think attached light fixtures, curtain rods, built-in shelving, or a TV mount attached to the wall.

Then there's personal property - things like refrigerators, washers and dryers, or other freestanding items - which may or may not stay depending on what we agreed to in the contract.

Thankfully, you don't have to remember everything.

Before the walk-through, I'll send you a screenshot directly from our contract showing exactly which items are supposed to convey so there's no confusion about what stays and what goes.

If you're unsure about something, ask me before you take it. Please don't make me explain to the buyers why their garage refrigerator is halfway to Ohio. 😂

Don't Forget the Little Stuff

Before you're officially finished with the house, gather anything the buyers will need after closing:

Garage remotes. Mailbox keys. Parking passes. Pool or amenity passes. Extra keys. Alarm, gate, or door codes.

Basically, if you'd be annoyed to discover it missing on your first night in a new house, let's make sure we've left it for them.

And For the Love of All Things Holy: Keep the Utilities On

Even if you've already moved out, the buyers need to be able to turn on the lights, run the water, check the HVAC, and make sure everything is still working during their final walk-through.

Please schedule your utilities to turn off the day AFTER closing.

Not the morning of closing.

Not when you move out.

Not when you sign your paperwork.

The day after closing. 😂

“But I Already Signed!”

One important distinction:

Your signing appointment and the buyer's closing are not necessarily the same thing.

As the seller, you may sign your documents ahead of time. That doesn't mean the house has officially changed hands yet.

Signed ≠ closed.

Until the transaction actually closes, we're still responsible for the property. I'll let you know when we're officially across the finish line.

The Big Picture

The final walk-through should be wonderfully uneventful.

Repairs complete. House emptied and professionally cleaned. Contract items left behind. Keys and remotes accounted for. Utilities ON.

The buyers walk through, everything looks exactly as expected, and they head to closing excited about their new home.

And then?

We get to celebrate because YOU SOLD YOUR HOUSE. 🎉