Closing Is Final... Inspect Your Largest Investment!
I'm sure this topic sounds dry to you, but the final walk through of your new home before closing is perhaps as important as your home inspection.
What's a final walk through?
Well it's your last chance (you are entitled to it per the sales contract) to check out your home and make sure nothing has changed since you last saw it, before you head to sign the papers for it to become your home.
Why is it important?
People mistakenly take the final day of closing lightly. They think, "oh, nothing bad can happen." or "if something goes wrong, my agent will take care of it." It would be nice to believe that I have superpowers to make it all better. But the reality is, when the deed is recorded at the courthouse (after you sign your papers in front of a closing attorney and pay for the home), you are accepting the home's condition at that time going forward. Meaning no warranty (unless provided in writing to succeed closing) or right to have a pre-existing repair item taken care of.
If that reason alone isn't enough... think of the worse case scenarios... a tornado just came through and knocked down your home. Or maybe a refrigerator line exploded and your home is under water. Or remember that fire last night you saw on the news? Well it could have been your home.
I don't mean to sound patronizing, and I certainly don't expect these worse case scenarios to happen to my clients' homes, but I have had a few last minute possible fiascos resolved because of a final walk through.
Yes, last minute issues are fun to deal with. Not really!
I once went to a final walk through on a town home in Woodcroft and the seller had taken the stove with her to Europe. I had an unhappy buyer on that day, but luckily she was able to get a new one.
In another situation, I helped my clients walk through their new construction home on the day of closing before heading to the attorney's office. We discovered a stream (not an intentional one, but one nevertheless) going through the middle of their back yard. Luckily we were able to have the builder install better drainage and a grate in the ground to catch water run off.
Don't skip the last step before home ownership. You will be happy you made the stop by home on the way to closing.
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