You’re checking one thing above all: is the home in the condition you agreed to buy?
Agreed-upon repairs done, included appliances still there, nothing new gone wrong since your last visit. Take your time — this is the last moment where catching a problem is easy instead of a legal headache.
Every item to check before the keys change hands — repairs, appliances, systems, the easy-to-miss stuff. Yours to print and bring to the walk-through. Pop in your email and it’s yours.
Repairs & agreement: all agreed-upon repairs completed (ask for receipts); every fixture and appliance that’s supposed to stay is still here, per the contract.
Appliances: dishwasher, oven, stove, fridge, microwave, washer, dryer — all working.
Plumbing: run faucets (leaks, drainage), flush toilets, check under sinks.
Electrical: switches, ceiling fans, outlets, and the panel as expected.
Heating & cooling: run it — regardless of the season.
Doors & windows: open, close, lock; no unexpected drafts or leaks.
Ceilings, walls, floors: any new damage since your last visit — water stains, cracks, flooring.
Outside: roof, gutters, downspouts, driveway, walkways, landscaping — any changes.
Basement & attic: signs of water, pests, or anything new.
Easy-to-miss stuff: overall cleanliness (“broom clean”), nothing left behind in closets/garage/storage, windows and screens intact, alarms and smoke detectors working, utilities operational.
If the home was vacant: test every system — water, electrical, heating/cooling — since anything switched off can hide a problem.
A written checklist so nothing gets skipped. A phone charger to test outlets. Time — don’t rush it. And your agent, who’s seen where these go sideways and can advise on the spot if something’s off.
If something is wrong, this is the moment to raise it — before closing, while you still have leverage, not after.
And make sure the home you’re paying for is the home you’re getting.
Mike Seal · 226-773-4918 · mikesealsells@gmail.com
It’s your last inspection of the home shortly before closing — your chance to confirm the property is in the condition you agreed to buy. You’re verifying that agreed-upon repairs were completed, that included fixtures and appliances are still there and working, and that nothing new has gone wrong since your previous visit. It’s a short step that prevents expensive surprises.
Raise it immediately, with your agent, before you close — that’s when you still have leverage. Depending on what it is, the fix might be a holdback of funds, a repair before closing, or a credit. Once you’ve closed and the money has moved, your options narrow considerably, which is exactly why the walk-through matters.
