Homebuyers: Never Skip Your Final Walkthrough

By Gwen Daubenmeyer

Gwen Daubenmeyer is the founder of our team. She brings an unwavering commitment to her clients and a get-it-done attitude. Gwen is unapologetically competitive. Marketing and negotiation are her Olympic events; if she could medal, she would. While winning is her “what,” her clients are her “why.”

You might think a final walkthrough isn’t a big deal, especially if the home is vacant and everything looked fine the last time you saw it, but skipping it can cost you. I once had buyers who couldn’t make the walkthrough, so I went on their behalf. The moment I walked through the front door, I knew something was wrong. The house was freezing, the heater wasn’t working, and closing was just a few hours away.

Why the walkthrough matters. Every purchase agreement includes a clause that gives buyers the right to walk through the home within 48 hours of closing or possession. The reason is simple: it’s to confirm the home is in the same condition as when the offer was written. That includes checking that all agreed-upon items are still there and making sure the heating, water, and electricity are working.

Utilities must be on and working. The furnace issue we found wasn’t just an inconvenience—it could have turned into a major expense. We didn’t know if it was due to a broken part or an unpaid utility bill, but I was able to negotiate a $10,000 holdback from the seller’s proceeds and place it into escrow. After closing, it was confirmed that the furnace had a cracked heat exchanger and needed to be replaced and the buyers got a new furnace at no cost. If we had skipped that walkthrough, they would have inherited the problem.

Vacant homes still carry risk. It’s easy to assume a vacant home is low risk because no one is there to damage anything, but empty homes can still have serious issues. Pipes can burst, heating systems can fail, and no one is there to notice. This is why walkthroughs are just as important for vacant properties as they are for occupied ones.

Check again after closing. In Michigan, sellers often stay in the home after closing. Movers may cause damage. Items that were supposed to stay might be missing. That’s why I always recommend a second walkthrough at possession. Before you move anything in, check the home again and document anything unusual with photos and timestamps.

A final walkthrough is one of the simplest ways to protect your investment and avoid surprises after closing. If you have questions about what to look for or want someone you trust to walk the property with you, feel free to call or text me at 248-850-2575 or email me at hey@theintegrityteam.com. I’m here to make sure everything goes smoothly before you get the keys.