Final Walk-Through Checklist Before Closing on a House

Take the repair agreement into the house. For each promised fix, write down what you see and whether you have the paperwork the seller agreed to provide. Then check the items that stay with the home and look for damage from move-out. Photograph anything unresolved and put it in your agent’s hands before closing.

Buyers often blur three different visits. The home inspection happens early, usually during an inspection contingency, and is where a professional looks for defects you might negotiate over. A re-inspection is an optional follow-up where an inspector or tradesperson checks specific repairs. The final walk-through is different again: it is usually you and your agent, and you are not hunting for new negotiating points. You are verifying that what was agreed actually happened and that the house has not changed since you last saw it.

That distinction matters because it sets expectations. An equipment label may tell you a water heater’s age. Confirming its condition or assessing attic ventilation calls for a different visit. If you want a refresher on what a full inspection covers, read our home inspection checklist . The walk-through is a comparison exercise: contract and repair agreement on one side, the house in front of you on the other.