The Complete Final Walkthrough Checklist
A final walkthrough is the buyer's last look at a home, usually 24 to 72 hours before closing, to confirm that agreed repairs are completed, included appliances and fixtures work, and the property is clean and undamaged. MARK Z Real Estate Experts, the Metro Detroit team led by Mark Zawaideh at eXp Realty, walks every purchase with our buyers using the checklist below.
Our short answer: do the walk after the seller moves out, bring your paperwork, test everything the contract says stays, and get any fix, credit or holdback in writing before you sign.
What a final walkthrough covers
That paperwork matters because a final walkthrough checks one thing: whether the home's condition still matches your purchase agreement.
It is not a second home inspection. And it is not the time to reopen the deal over old issues.
| The walk IS | The walk is NOT |
|---|---|
| A check that the home's condition matches the purchase agreement | A new home inspection |
| Confirmation that agreed repairs were completed properly | A chance to ask for new repairs on issues you already accepted |
| A test of included appliances, fixtures and systems | A critique of the seller's taste |
| A look for new damage since your last visit | A formality you can skip |
Plan on at least an hour for it. In a larger house, the process can take an hour or two, which is why we never book it in a rush before work.
We ask for the walk after the seller has moved out whenever we can. Here's the thing: empty rooms show damage that furniture and boxes hide, on the walls, floors and corners you couldn't see when you toured.
What to bring
Once the rooms are empty and the date is set, the next job is packing a small kit. The items below let you check, test and document everything in one visit. Buyers who show up empty-handed end up guessing.
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Purchase agreement | Shows what the seller agreed to leave and repair |
| Home inspection report and repair list | Lets you check each item against the agreed repairs |
| Repair receipts, warranties or invoices | Proves the work was completed and by whom |
| Phone and phone charger | Photos of any issues; the charger tests electrical outlets |
| Flashlight | Lets you inspect dark corners, under sinks, the attic and basement |
| Notepad and pen | Tracks questions and items for your agent |
We ask the seller's agent to send repair receipts before the walk, because reading them at home the night before beats reading them in a hallway.
Room-by-room checklist
With the receipts already read, the walk itself goes faster, and the easiest way to avoid missing a room is to move through the home in the same order every time. Here is the order we use with our buyers.
Kitchen
- Test every appliance included in the sale: stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer and garbage disposal.
- Check that the refrigerator dispenses water and ice properly.
- Open and close all cabinet doors and drawers, and confirm handles and hardware are in place.
- Run water in the sink and look under the cabinet for active leaks.
- Turn on the range exhaust fan.
Bathrooms
- Flush every toilet and confirm it fills and does not run continuously.
- Run hot and cold water in every sink, shower and tub, and check water pressure and drainage.
- Look under sinks and around tubs and toilets for moisture, mold or loose caulking.
- Run the exhaust fans.
- Verify towel racks, medicine cabinets and mirrors are intact.
Living areas, bedrooms and hallways
- Flip every light switch and test ceiling fans.
- Plug your phone charger into each electrical outlet.
- Open, close and lock every door and window, and check the seals.
- Inspect walls, floors and ceilings for new scratches, dents, holes, stains or damage, especially where furniture used to sit.
- Confirm blinds and window coverings included in the contract are there and work.
Heating, cooling and home systems
- Set the thermostat to test both heating and cooling, and feel for airflow at the registers.
- Look around the water heater for visible leaks or damage.
- Test the garage door opener and its safety auto-reverse sensors.
- Check the basement for water, new stains or a damp smell.
- Ask for codes, manuals and remotes for the security system, garage and any smart devices.
Exterior and general property
- Confirm the home is broom-clean and all seller belongings, trash and debris are removed.
- Walk the exterior and look at the lawn, fences, gutters and downspouts.
- Run the outdoor faucets and watch for leaks.
- Make sure every key, garage remote and mailbox key is included.
How to verify agreed repairs
The outside walk usually ends where the money is: the list of agreed repairs. We match each one to a receipt.
| Repair type | How to verify it | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing leak | Run water for a few minutes and look under the fixture | Fresh paint or caulk over a stain with no receipt |
| Electrical work | Test the repaired switch or outlet | No invoice or receipt for the work |
| Roof or gutter | Look at the area from the ground and in the attic | Water marks on the ceiling below |
| Appliance replacement | Run a full cycle and check the model | A different model than the agreement lists |
| HVAC service | Run heat and cool, and ask for the service receipt | No dated receipt |
Line up each receipt with the repair list from the inspection.
If an item has no proof of completion, note it. Then tell your agent right away.
When to schedule the walk
Timing decides how much room you have to chase a missing receipt. For most buyers, the best time is the day before closing, with the seller already moved out. That window shows the home's recent condition. And it still leaves time to fix small issues.
| Timing | Best fit | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Day of closing | Buyers who want the freshest look at the property | Little time to fix issues |
| 24 hours before | Most buyers, once it is empty | Seller may still be moving |
| A few days before | Buyers who want room to negotiate a repair or credit | Something could change before close |
If the seller needs to stay in the home after closing, talk with your agent about how the walk and any later check of the property will be handled.
What to do if you find problems
That extra day earns its keep when something is wrong. When the visit turns up a real issue, the buyer and seller can usually negotiate a repair, a credit, a price adjustment or a delay in closing. Your agent should handle that with the seller's side before you sign anything.
| Problem found | Best fit option | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Agreed repair not completed | Seller finishes it before closing | May push the closing day |
| Small new damage | A credit at closing | You handle the repair after move-in |
| Missing appliance or fixture | Return of the item or a credit | Credit may not match replacement cost |
| Seller belongings or debris left | Removal before closing or a cleaning credit | Extra coordination on a tight day |
| Larger issue that needs time | Part of the seller's proceeds held in escrow until the work is done | Requires written terms and title company sign-off |
Seems obvious, but never sign closing documents on a handshake promise.
Any fix, credit or escrow holdback needs to be in writing, and your agent, the title company or a real estate attorney can explain how it works in your transaction.
Things buyers forget to check
Most of those problems start as small things a rushed buyer walks past. These are the ones we see missed most often.
- Every outlet, including the ones behind doors and in the garage.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, using the test button.
- Window screens and storm windows.
- Utility transfer dates, so the lights and water are on the day you move in.
- Items the seller promised to leave that are not appliances, such as a shed, a grill or window treatments.
Michigan seasons and the final walk
The season you close in can hide a few more. Metro Detroit weather changes what you can spot. In winter, snow can cover the yard, the driveway and parts of the exterior, so we check what the inspection report said about those areas and look at anything we can reach.
After a heavy rain, the basement is the first room we open. Water that was not there at the inspection is the kind of new damage this visit exists to catch.
Take dated photos of the exterior and the basement either way. If a question comes up after closing, those photos show your agent the home's condition on the day of the walk.
New construction homes
A brand-new house skips the weather history but brings its own list. On new construction, there may be more than one walk before closing, sometimes a first pass a few days out and a quick re-check on closing day. Look closely for cosmetic defects, paint touch-ups, scratched counters and gaps in trim, and confirm every item on the builder's list is completed before you close. Keep the warranty and know who to call for issues after move-in.
How our team runs the final walk
On walkthrough day, our agents bring the purchase agreement, the inspection report and the repair receipts, go room by room with you, and test what the contract says stays with the house. When we find issues, we take them to the seller's agent and the title company the same day, so your closing stays on track.
MARK Z Real Estate Experts is ranked a Top 10 team worldwide by The Wall Street Journal and RealTrends, with 6,029 homes sold and 1,075 five-star Google reviews. With about 60 agents across Metro Detroit, we have a buyer's agent near you in Novi, Birmingham, West Bloomfield and beyond.
Final walkthrough FAQ
Buyers ask us these three on most purchases.
How long does a final walkthrough take?
Plan on at least an hour. A larger house can take an hour or two.
Can I skip the final walkthrough?
You can. We never recommend it, though, since it is your last chance to confirm the condition of the home before you own it.
Who attends the final walkthrough?
The buyer and the buyer's agent. The seller usually is not there unless the buyer asks, and then the seller's agent should attend too.
From the first showing to closing day
Ready to buy in Metro Detroit? Call MARK Z Real Estate Experts at (248) 890-7077, and we will guide you from the first showing through the final walk and closing day.