As you walk through your future home for the last time before it becomes official, chances are you will feel a mix of emotions. No doubt you will be happy, excited, and you may even be proud that this is going to be your new home. These are all quite normal and rational feelings. In fact, I remember feeling the very same way as I looked at the home that I currently live in, before I purchased it.

I imagined how great it would feel to have meals in our dining room, my family and I. Thoughts of holidays filled my mind and the joy that they would bring. The whole idea of a new home just set my mind at ease.

However, I realize that many things could be waiting to happen that could have made my dream home a disaster, as it could yours. As you take the final walk through, this is your chance to make sure that everything is as it should be. You will be able to make sure the home is in a condition that allows for comfortable living, and that any agreed upon repairs were fixed. You can also make sure that anything that was found in the home inspection was taken care of. Now is the time to make sure that your dream home will be everything you know it can be.

Repairs

There is a good chance that when you had your home inspection you found things that needed to be fixed. If this is the case, now is the time to make sure all of those repairs happened and the anything that was broken is in complete and total working order. Anything that needed to be replaced should be replaced.

You should not only check to make sure every repair has been fixed as it should be but you should request copies of each bill that obtained for services rendered. You should also request any warranties that came with the repair, so that you are covered if there is another problem.

No matter what the problem was that was being repaired, you should check. You may think that it is little and not a big deal, but if it was agreed that it would be fixed, you have a right to make sure that the home you plan to live in is free of need for repairs. No matter how little the problem, it is one that you should not have to deal with.

Extra Items

Many times when you see a furnished home that you want, you will fall in love with the complete package. It is not uncommon for people to make a bid on their dream home and ask that certain things be included. You could request something as simple as drapes or a refrigerator or something as uncommon as the furniture.

No matter what you asked for in the deal, now is the time to make sure that everything is still in the home where it should be. If you have a list of things that were to be included, walk through the whole house and make sure each item is there.

If you do not do this and you find out later that these items are not in your home it will be much harder to retrieve them after the fact.

Screens and Storm Windows

This is the perfect time to check each window and see that there screen or storm coverings are in place. If they are missing you need to make sure they are placed in the garage, basement, or another suitable place for storage.

It doesn’t matter so much if they are on as long as they are there. Once again, if you find that something is missing it’s best to find it before the house becomes yours, as the hassle is much greater once the ownership changes hands.

Appliances

You need to make sure that everything is in working order. Now is the time to play with the air conditioning and the furnace to make sure both work. Test the hot water heater and if you have one, test the alarm.

The appliances that come with the home will obviously vary from home to home and to each general situation, the important thing is that you ensure that each appliance is in complete and total working order. This will make sure that your home buying experience is that much sweeter and it will give you one less thing to worry about when you move in.

Doorbells and Intercoms

If you have them, play with them. Make sure that both your doorbell and your intercom work. Have someone stand in a different part of the house and test each intercom. Go outside when you are done and play with the doorbell.

You want to make sure that anything like this is in working order. Things like intercoms can be expensive to fix as it falls under an electrician’s pay. This is not something you want to waste your money on, when it should have been in working order to begin with. As long as you make sure it works before you move in, you won’t have a thing to worry about except enjoying your home once you’re there.

Plumbing

Play with each faucet a little bit and make sure that the pressure is good and that the hot and cold water work and are of adequate temperature. You may think this is unnecessary, but plumbing bills can be quite high and a problem to fix should they not work. Why end up sticking yourself with an unnecessary bill if you don’t have to?

It’s best to just check everything out as you are going through this one last time. If you aren’t sure what you need to check out you should ask your real estate agent, if you have one. If you have opted to buy your new home on your own, I would suggest making a list of things you were worried about and checking each one of those things carefully at this time.

Landscaping

Make sure that all trees, shrubs, flowers and plants are in the order they were when you last saw them. If you planned to buy a house that had flowers in the yard, make sure they are there! People have and will remove landscaping items from their yard, sometimes it was agreed on and sometimes not. It is your job to make sure your new home is as it should be. This means checking for everything you can imagine and making sure that it is the way you planned to buy it.

If anything was supposed to be in the yard or outside area and is not, now is the best time to bring that up and see that it is corrected before you finalize the deal. When you are negotiating a deal, things like swing sets and child hood items may be something that is planned to go, in cases such as those, it is best to ask questions and to check with the current owner.

Remotes

If you have a garage door opener, you need to make sure you have the remote. The same goes for anything else you may need a remote for. Make sure they are left in a spot that works well for you so that you won’t have to hunt them down or end up calling the seller later to find them.

The same goes for the alarm. If you have one make sure you know the current pass code and how to set it so that once you move in you can create a new one that is unique for you. Obviously you would need a new one and it can be a hassle if you aren’t sure of the proper method to set it.

Instructions, Warranties, and more

Make sure you have any paper documents that you need. If the seller has any repair bills, warrantees, or any instructions to home appliances that you could use, you need to make sure you ask for them.

Many people will simply forget these items. They tend to overlook them due to excitement and other issues and they will just pass them by. When the time comes and they need that warrantee slip, it becomes a major hassle. This is why it is best to remember all of these items while they are still in the house. If you find that you will have a hard time remembering all this, write it down, or mention them to anyone coming with you.

The seller’s personal items

When you are walking through you will want to make sure that everything is packed and ready to go if the owner’s are currently still living there. Open closets and drawers to make sure they haven’t forgotten anything. This is helpful for them in case they have left something behind. It is helpful for you to make sure you don’t have to clean up any messes other than your own as you move in.

It is important for you to look out for yourself and your new investment. It’s amazing how easily things can be overlooked or people can be taken advantage of if you are not paying the proper attention. I have seen it happen to many others and I would hate for it to happen to you.

As with all things real estate, I am here to help. If you have any questions, comments, or need advice, please never hesitate to call on me. I am here for you!