The best time time to conduct a final walk through on your new home

There can be a lot of time between the moment that  you make your offer on a home unitl the time that you close. The time frame can be anywhere from 45 - 60 days on average in Fairfield County, but closings can happen at whatever time frame  is agreed upon  between seller and buyer.

The reason for a final walk through is to make sure that the home is in the same condition as it was when you initially put the offer in,  ensure that it's  clean and free from personal  effects, and to make sure that the inclusions that were agreed upon  are present. If there  are any concerns, you MUST tell your attorney immediately following the walk through, and they should be handled prior to closing. Once you close on the property, its a whole different ball game, so to speak.

There are varying opinions as to exactly when to do the inspection. Some agents like to  do it a few days before, the night before, or the morning of the closing. Forget about whether its convenient or not, my advice is to do the walk through  (or final inspection) JUST PRIOR to the closing. By just prior, I mean do your  final walk though on the way to the attorneys office to sign all the papers and close. Oh, yes- there's a reason, and it's a very good one.

I have represented hundreds of buyers, and it 's pretty commonplace to do the walk through the night before. It wasn't until about 15 years ago when  we conducted a final walk through as usual the night before. Seemed reasonable, and everything was fine at the house- except for one thing- the 80 gallon hot water heater blew up that night, AFTER WE LEFT.  My buyers went to their new house the next day  immediately following the closing to find a flooded basement. Luckily, the attorneys had not completed doing the transaction and accommodations were made. But guess what? It could have been a big legal mess. Whew!!!

So after that I figured that things can happen at anytime,  and it's best  to double check the house  just prior to the closing. I actually advise two walk throughs- what I call a preliminary the day before, (in case there are any major problems that need time to rectify) and the final walk through just prior to the actual closing. There are a number of  horror stories  for the buyer that were averted by  doing the walk throughs this way, and for that I am proud.  And maybe it takes just a little more time- thats okay with me. I want it done right. Don't you?