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Robert Cobb
Robert Cobb is Managing Broker/Owner of CENTURY 21 Cobb Realty in Pittsburg, KS. He is a life-long resident of Pittsburg and a PSU graduate with a BS in Business Administration. He has been in the real estate field for 23 years. He is currently a KAR Director and the President of the Pittsburg Board of Realtors.
Real Estate
2012-01-26 15:46:16
What you need to know about the final
Q: We are in the process of buying our first home. Can you tell me the purpose of the final walk through and how it is handled?
A: Before the closing of your new home, typically five-seven days before closing, you will have the opportunity to do a final walk. Although some people are so anxious to get into their home that they want to forego the walk-through, there are many good reasons that you should take the opportunity to take a final look. • It is your last chance to verify sellers have upheld their side of the bargain • You still have the leverage to get agreed upon things completed The walk-through is not another home inspection, or a time to negotiate for repairs. The main purpose of your inspection is to verify that the home is being conveyed to you in the condition agreed upon in the contract. Use this Time to Assure: • The property has not been damaged since you agreed to buy it • All required repairs have been satisfactorily completed or are in the process of being done • The items that the seller agreed to leave have not been removed • All items that the seller agreed to remove are gone Here are Some Things to Consider Be sure to give the process the time it deserves and look at it from the perspective of someone less emotionally involved. Excitement can cause us to overlook many things! As you conduct your walk-through: • Refer to your purchase contract as you look at the property rather than relying on memory • Start with the outside of the property and work your way through the home from top to bottom • Check major systems and appliances to assure they are in good working order • Check attic and basements/crawl spaces, looking for discarded items and potential problem areas • Inspect walls and floors for any damage that may have occurred when the sellers moved or that may not have been obvious when you originally looked at the home • Check the condition of windows, doors, sprinklers, gutters and landscaping If you are not comfortable doing the walk through alone, consider having a home inspector or your real estate agent accompany you. Also, be sure to make a checklist of issues that still need to be resolved to meet the conditions in your contract. Bring this list to your agent’s attention so they can help facilitate remedies. Ideally, everything is done before closing, but if not, don’t worry. It is common for buyers and sellers to agree on an amount of money to be held in escrow for repairs to be completed following closing. Congratulations on your new home!
 
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