Home Buyers Checklist and Preparation before Closing
The final walk through for home buyers is the last chance to verify the condition of the property and verify that any repair work agreed upon has been completed. The final walk through typically occurs just before closing. Just because you are excited about closing on the property do not rush through the walk through. Pay careful attention to the details to make sure you don’t suffer any surprises once the home is yours.
We recommend to our buyers to bring this checklist, a note pad, and a camera or your smart phone. You should also bring a copy of the sales contract, home inspection report and the seller’s disclosure form to carefully check off each item on the list. You may also want to bring an electrical tester to check the outlets. No matter how pressed for time, it is never a good idea to pass on performing the final walkthrough. This is especially true if the house has been vacant for any amount of time or if there has been any severe weather since you last saw the home.
When you first arrive at the house, start the clothes washer, dryer and dishwasher through a cycle. Continue with the checklist and verify the appliances completed the cycle and that there are no leaks.
Buyers Checklist Prior to Closing |
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Have all agreed upon repairs been made? |
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Have all the repairs required by the sales agreement been made? |
Yes |
No |
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Are all bills for repairs and applicable warranties given to you? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes |
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Are items purchased with the house where they are supposed to be? |
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Drapes, blinds or window treatments |
Yes |
No |
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Appliances (washer/dryer, refrigerator, ice maker, etc.) |
Yes |
No |
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Lighting |
Yes |
No |
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Furnishings |
Yes |
No |
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Hot tub or sauna |
Yes |
No |
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Play structures |
Yes |
No |
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Remote control devices for blinds, ceiling fans, alarms, garage doors |
Yes |
No |
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Owner’s manuals for appliances and home systems (HVAC, fireplace units, alarm systems, etc.) |
Yes |
No |
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Other: |
Yes |
No |
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Notes |
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Check window and doors |
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Do all the doors open and close properly? |
Yes |
No |
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Do all the windows open and close properly? |
Yes |
No |
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Do the windows latch/lock? |
Yes |
No |
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Are any windows missing screens? |
Yes |
No |
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Are there any missing storm windows? |
Yes |
No |
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Is there condensation in double-panned windows? |
Yes |
No |
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Are there any broken windows? |
Yes |
No |
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Do you have keys for all the doors? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check for mold and water damage |
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Do the windows have signs of mold or rot? |
Yes |
No |
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Any signs of mold or water damage under the kitchen sink? |
Yes |
No |
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Any signs of mold or water damage in the bathroom? |
Yes |
No |
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Any signs of mold or water damage around the refrigerator area? |
Yes |
No |
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Any signs of mold or water damage around the washer/dryer area? |
Yes |
No |
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Any signs of mold or water damage around the water heater? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check appliances and systems |
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Did dishwasher complete its cycle? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the thermostat work? |
Yes |
No |
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Test the A/C. Does the system blow cool air? |
Yes |
No |
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Test the heat. Does it get hot? |
Yes |
No |
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Switch on overhead fans. Do they work? |
Yes |
No |
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Test the water heater. Is the water from faucets hot? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the doorbell work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the alarm work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the intercom work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the garage door open and close smoothly and quietly? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the washer work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the dryer work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the stove work (check all burners and oven)? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the built-in microwave oven work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the damper in the fireplace work? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the gas come on in the gas fireplace? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the fan work in the gas fireplace? |
Yes |
No |
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Does the garbage disposal work? |
Yes |
No |
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Do all the exhaust fans (bath and kitchen) work? |
Yes |
No |
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Do the smoke alarms work? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check interior floors, walls, and ceilings |
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Are there any water stains on the ceiling (especially below bathrooms)? |
Yes |
No |
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Have any walls been damaged by movers? |
Yes |
No |
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Are handrails in stairways secured? |
Yes |
No |
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Have floors been damaged by movers or pets? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check for leaks and plumbing problems |
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Flush all toilets. Do they run, empty slowly, or leak? |
Yes |
No |
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Check all faucets. Do they leak? |
Yes |
No |
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Fill the sinks. Do they drain properly? |
Yes |
No |
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Fill the tubs. Do they drain properly? |
Yes |
No |
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Do the overflows on the tubs work? |
Yes |
No |
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Do the tub jets work? (spa tubs only)? |
Yes |
No |
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Turn on all showers. Do they drain properly? |
Yes |
No |
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Look under sinks. Are there any leaks? |
Yes |
No |
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Check the basement. Look at the floor, walls, and any exposed plumbing. Are there signs of leaks? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check electric |
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Turn on all lights. Do they work? |
Yes |
No |
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Check plate covers. Are they damaged or missing? |
Yes |
No |
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Check the kitchen and bathroom outlets. Are there GFCI outlets next to the sinks and other water sources? |
Yes |
No |
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Inspect the circuit breaker box. Are all the circuits labeled? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check exterior |
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Is the landscape as you expected it? Any shrubs or trees missing? |
Yes |
No |
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Turn on the sprinklers. Do they work? |
Yes |
No |
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Check roof for missing shingles? |
Yes |
No |
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Is the siding in the expected condition? |
Yes |
No |
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Are the windows in the expected condition? |
Yes |
No |
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Are garbage and recycling cans on the property? |
Yes |
No |
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Are sidewalks and driveway in expected condition? |
Yes |
No |
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Does exterior lighting work? |
Yes |
No |
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Are downspouts clear of debris? |
Yes |
No |
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Is the pool and Hot Tub in working condition? |
Yes |
No |
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Is the outside shower and all outside faucets in working condition? |
Yes |
No |
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Are outside outlets GFCI protected and working? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check attic and other storage places |
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Is it empty? Are there any hazardous materials? |
Yes |
No |
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Do you see signs of pests? |
Yes |
No |
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Is the insulation compressed, torn or compromised? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Check for cleanliness |
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Is the property clean overall? |
Yes |
No |
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Is all personal property not included in the sale removed? |
Yes |
No |
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Are there signs of pest infestations? |
Yes |
No |
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Is all debris removed? |
Yes |
No |
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Notes: |
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Home Sellers Checklist and Preparation before Closing
Many times home buyers and home sellers never get a chance to meet. Sellers can facilitate a smooth closing by having the following checklist of items taken care of in advance of closing. A good rule of thumb is to leave the home in the same condition you would want if you were moving in. Leave the items out on the kitchen counter so the buyers will see it when they perform the final walk-through before closing.
Sellers Checklist Prior to Closing |
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Manuals, operating instructions and warranty: Leave manuals for appliances and mechanicals like the HVAC system on the kitchen counter for the seller to find. |
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Include security alarm codes and manuals |
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Include keys to the house and any outbuildings |
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Include remotes for garage doors, fans, blinds etc. |
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Window screens: If screens aren’t in the windows, leave a note indicating where they are. |
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Light bulbs: Replace any burned out light bulbs in the house. |
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Batteries: Verify batteries in smoke detector are still working or replace with fresh batteries. |
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Forwarding address and phone number: Even if you’ve submitted your change of address form to the post office, provide it to the buyer in case they need to forward mail to you or call you with questions. |
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Clean: Leave your home clean for the buyers and remove all trash. |
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Paint for touch-ups: It’s a thoughtful gesture to leave any paint cans marked with the rooms where the paint was used. The buyer can then do touch-ups later on if needed. |
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Service Providers: Leave a list of service providers used at the home for the buyers to reference. |
If there are any issues discovered during your final walk through, immediately contact your agent to discuss them. Your Eillu real estate agent can advise you regarding appropriate courses of action. Depending on the severity of the issue, several courses of action can be taken. A minor item could be overlooked or you could seek financial compensation or repair by the seller.
If a major item or more costly item is revealed then your agent will contact the seller agent. Closing could be postponed in order to investigate the issue or financial compensation from seller to buyer could be negotiated. Keep in mind that the seller could refuse and you also have the option to walk away from the deal.
Immediately communicating any problems you detect will make sure you’re appropriately compensated for any uncompleted repairs previously agreed upon or recent damage that may have occurred when the previous owners were moving out.