Final Inspection

The final inspection is when the buyers walk through the property a few days before closing to ensure that the house is in the same condition as when they made their offer. If the sellers had repairs completed, those should be verified also. This is a visual inspection, and it gives the buyers confidence their house is in good condition.

The buyer’s agent will schedule the final inspection, which you will coordinate with your sellers. Before the final inspection, help the sellers make sure they are ready. They need to have vacated the house. All personal possessions must be removed, except for items listed in the purchase contract that “convey”. For example: the dining room chandelier, workbench in the garage, and window blinds. Any trash or debris outside should be disposed of. The utilities should be left on so the buyers can verify that the plumbing works.

The house should be left “broom swept” clean. In other words, the carpets should be vacuumed and the floors cleaned. While there is no requirement that the interior should be scrubbed clean, recommend that your sellers do it anyway.

When they move into a new house, they would expect that the stove, oven, sinks, toilets, windows, walls, cabinets, and counters are clean and ready for occupancy. In the spirit of courtesy, the sellers should consider hiring professional cleaners to leave the house sparkling, just as they would want to find it if they were moving in

The buyer’s agent will accompany the buyers during the walk­through and assist them in completing the Visual Property Inspection form. Hopefully they will not find any substantial items, but if they do, you will need to work with the sellers to correct those items promptly.