Final Walk-Through Checklist: What to Check Before You Close on Your Home

2026-02-18

The final walk-through is your last chance to inspect the property before you sign the closing documents and hand over a very large check. It's not a formality. It's not a quick drive-by. It's a structured inspection with a specific purpose: confirming that the home is in the condition you agreed to buy it in.

This final walk-through checklist covers everything you should check, what to photograph as evidence, how to handle problems you find, and the timeline for getting issues resolved before (or after) closing.

When does the final walkthrough happen?

The final walk-through typically occurs 24-48 hours before closing, though it can happen the morning of closing day. Schedule it as close to closing as possible — you want to see the property after the seller has moved out, not while their furniture is still hiding the walls and floors.

Plan for 30-60 minutes. Bring your partner or a trusted friend, your phone (for photos and the checklist), a flashlight, and a copy of your inspection report with the agreed-upon repairs highlighted.

The complete final walk-through checklist

Agreed-upon repairs

This is the most important section. If you negotiated repairs after the home inspection, verify every single one.

Compare against your inspection response. Pull up the list of repairs the seller agreed to make. Check each one in person. If they agreed to replace a section of roofing, look at it. If they agreed to fix a plumbing leak, run the water and check under the sink.
Ask for receipts or permits. For significant repairs (electrical work, plumbing, roofing, HVAC), ask for the contractor's receipt and any required permits. A permit confirms the work was done to code and inspected by the municipality. Unpermitted work can create problems when you sell.
Test, don't just look. If the seller said they fixed a leaky faucet, run it for a full minute. If they said they repaired a broken window, open and close it. If they patched a roof leak, check the ceiling below for new stains.

Appliances and fixtures

Everything that was included in the purchase agreement should still be there and working.

Run every appliance. Turn on the dishwasher, run the washing machine and dryer through a quick cycle, test the oven and stove burners, open and close the refrigerator and freezer (check that they're cold), run the garbage disposal, and test the microwave if it's built in.
Check light fixtures. Every fixture that was present during your showing should still be there. Sellers occasionally swap out nice fixtures for cheaper ones before moving out.
Check window treatments. If blinds, curtains, or shutters were included in the sale, verify they're still there and functional.
Test the garage door opener. Open and close it. Check that the safety sensors reverse the door when obstructed.
Test the doorbell and intercom if the home has one.

Plumbing

Turn on every faucet — kitchen, all bathrooms, laundry, outdoor spigots. Let them run for 30 seconds and check under the sinks for leaks.
Flush every toilet. Flush and watch for complete fill and stop. Listen for running water after the tank fills.
Check the water heater. Is it producing hot water? Run a tap for a minute — it should get hot.
Look for new water stains on ceilings and walls, especially below bathrooms. New stains that weren't there during your previous visits indicate a leak that developed (or was hidden) during the seller's move-out.

Electrical

Test every light switch. Walk through every room and flip every switch. Note any that don't work — they may control outlets rather than fixtures, so plug in your phone charger to test.
Test GFCI outlets in bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and exterior. Press the "test" button, verify the outlet goes dead, press "reset." GFCI outlets are a safety requirement in wet areas.
Check the electrical panel. Open it and compare to what you saw during the inspection. All breakers should be labeled. Nothing should be added or changed without a permit.

HVAC

Turn on the heat, then the air conditioning. Even if it's summer, test both systems. The heat should produce warm air within a few minutes. The AC should produce cold air. Listen for unusual sounds — grinding, banging, or squealing indicate problems.
Check the thermostat. Does it respond? Is it the same thermostat that was there during the inspection (sellers occasionally take smart thermostats)?
Check air filters. They should be clean. A heavily clogged filter suggests the system hasn't been maintained.

Structure and surfaces

Walk every room and look at the walls and ceilings. Moving furniture out reveals what was hidden: holes, stains, damage, uneven paint, and cracks that were behind the couch.
Check the floors. Moving-day damage — scratches from dragged furniture, dents from dropped boxes, carpet stains that were under rugs — is common. Minor scuffs are expected; deep gouges or large stains that weren't there before are worth documenting.
Open and close every door. Interior doors, exterior doors, closet doors. Check that they latch properly and don't stick.
Open and close every window. Check for smooth operation, intact locks, and no new cracks in the glass.

Exterior

Walk the perimeter. Check for any new damage — cracked siding, broken fencing, damage from the moving truck hitting something.
Check the yard. If the seller agreed to leave the yard in reasonable condition, make sure they didn't leave debris, trash, or abandoned items.
Check the mailbox, exterior lighting, and house numbers. These are easy items to overlook.
Test exterior faucets and any irrigation systems.

General condition

Is the house clean? Purchase agreements typically require the seller to leave the home in "broom clean" condition. This means swept floors, no trash, and no abandoned personal property. You're not entitled to a professional cleaning, but you are entitled to a house that's not a mess.
Are the keys, garage remotes, and alarm codes ready? Ask the seller or their agent for all keys, garage door openers, gate remotes, and alarm system codes or instructions. Also ask for any appliance manuals, warranty documents, and paint color information the seller might have.
Is everything that should be there, there? And is everything that should be gone, gone? Check that no personal property was left behind (you're not responsible for disposing of the seller's junk) and that nothing included in the sale was removed.

What to photograph

Take photos of everything. Your photos serve as evidence if you need to negotiate a holdback or delay closing.

Document: - Every completed repair (or repair that wasn't completed) - Any new damage you discover - The condition of every room (wide shots) - Close-ups of any issues - Appliance conditions - Any items that were supposed to be included but are missing

Take a video walkthrough as well. Walk through the entire house narrating what you see. This creates a timestamped record of the property's condition at the time of your walkthrough.

What to do if you find problems

Minor issues

Scratched floors from the move-out, a missing light bulb, or a dirty oven are common and usually not worth delaying closing over. Note them, photograph them, and move on. You're about to own the house — you'll fix them yourself.

Moderate issues

A repair that wasn't completed, an appliance that isn't working, or a broken window that happened during move-out are moderate issues that warrant action.

Option 1: Holdback. Your attorney or title company can hold a portion of the seller's proceeds in escrow until the issue is resolved. This gives the seller financial incentive to complete the repair after closing. Get a written agreement specifying the holdback amount, the timeline for repair, and the release conditions.

Option 2: Closing credit. Negotiate a credit at the closing table to cover the cost of fixing the issue yourself. This is often simpler than a holdback.

Major issues

Significant new damage (water damage from a burst pipe during vacancy, vandalism, the furnace died), repairs that the seller clearly failed to complete, or items removed in violation of the purchase agreement are reasons to consider delaying closing.

Do not close if major agreed-upon repairs weren't done. Once you close, your leverage evaporates. The seller has their money and no obligation to fix anything. Talk to your attorney about your options — typically, you can delay closing until the issue is resolved, negotiate a significant credit, or in extreme cases, exercise your right to terminate the contract.

Country-specific walkthrough notes

United Kingdom: The UK equivalent is the "pre-completion inspection" or "snagging list" (for new builds). With new-build properties, professional snagging inspectors can identify hundreds of defects that the developer must fix before or shortly after completion. For resale properties, check the condition is consistent with what you saw before exchange of contracts.

Australia: The "pre-settlement inspection" serves the same purpose. In most states, you have the right to inspect the property in the week before settlement. For off-the-plan (new build) purchases, a professional defects inspection is strongly recommended.

Canada: Final walkthroughs are standard and typically happen within 24-48 hours of closing. For new construction, conduct a comprehensive walkthrough with the builder's representative and create a detailed deficiency list.

Want a printable walkthrough checklist with a photo log template? The First-Time Homebuyer Toolkit includes a full final walkthrough checklist designed to be printed and brought to the property, plus inspection checklists, closing cost worksheets, and agent interview scripts for every stage of buying a home for the first time. $14 instant download.