The Complete Final Walkthrough Checklist

A final walkthrough is a buyer's last chance to see the home before closing, usually 24 to 72 hours ahead, to confirm that agreed repairs are complete, included appliances work, and no new damage has appeared since the inspection. Bentley's Real Estate is a Greater Newburyport, Massachusetts brokerage, and our agents walk the home with the buyers we represent.

What the final walkthrough checks

The final walkthrough answers one question: is the property's condition still what you signed?

It is no second inspection. And it is no time to reopen points you already accepted.

The final walk is	The final walk is not
A check that the home matches the contract	A new home inspection
Proof that negotiated repairs were completed	A chance to ask for new repairs
A test of included appliances, fixtures and systems	A review of the seller's taste
A look for new damage from the move	A formality buyers can skip

We try to book the walk after the seller has moved out.

Empty rooms show damage that furniture used to cover.

What to bring to the final walkthrough

Once the seller is out and the date is set, the next job is packing a small kit: the paperwork that defines the deal, plus a few simple tools to test the house.

Item	Why it matters
Purchase agreement and repair addendum	Shows which items stay and which repairs were agreed
Home inspection report	Lets you check each flagged item
Receipts or warranties for seller repairs	Proves the work was completed
Phone and phone charger	Photos of issues; the charger tests electrical outlets
Notepad and pen	Tracks questions for your agent

Ask for the seller's repair receipts ahead of time, so you can read them at home instead of in a hallway.

Room-by-room final walkthrough checklist

With the receipts already read, the walk itself goes faster. Going room by room keeps you from skipping a space.

Kitchen and appliances

• Turn on every burner and the oven.
• Make sure the refrigerator and freezer cool and the ice maker works.
• Run the dishwasher on a short cycle and confirm it drains properly.
• Test the microwave and the garbage disposal.
• Run water and look under the sink for leaks.

Plumbing and bathrooms

• Run hot and cold water in every sink, tub and shower for pressure and drainage.
• Flush every toilet and watch the base for leaks.
• Confirm hot water reaches the fixtures.
• Turn on the exhaust fans.

Heating, cooling and electrical systems

• Test the thermostat so both heating and cooling come on, but skip running the AC if it is below 65°F outside.
• Flip every light switch, test dimmers and run the ceiling fans.
• Plug your phone charger into each electrical outlet.

Doors, windows, walls and floors

• Open, close and lock each door and window.
• Scan walls and ceilings for fresh holes, cracks or stains.
• Peek into closets, the attic and the basement for leftover debris.

Exterior and garage

• Try the garage opener and its remotes.
• Ring the doorbell and arm any alarm.
• Confirm trash, old paint cans and personal items are gone.
• Scan the roof, gutters and siding for storm marks.

Watch the weather, too. In a North Shore winter, snow can cover the yard and parts of the exterior.

Photograph what you can see and check the rest against the inspection report.

How to verify agreed repairs

Those photos matter most for the promised fixes. Verify each agreed repair by testing it against a receipt, and raise any repair with no paperwork with your agent before closing.

Repair	How to verify	Red flag
Plumbing leak	Run water a few minutes and check under the fixture	Fresh paint over a stain, no receipt
Electrical work	Test the switch or outlet	No invoice
Appliance replacement	Run a full cycle	A different model than agreed

What to do if you find issues

A missing receipt can point to a bigger problem. If the walk turns up one, the usual options are a seller repair before closing, a credit at closing, an escrow holdback, or a delay.

Problem	Best fit	Tradeoff
Minor issue or small new damage	Seller credit at closing	You handle the fix after you move in
Repair not completed	Seller completes it before closing	May push the closing day
Major system not working	Delay closing or require the repair first	Timeline shifts
Larger repair needing time	Escrow holdback	Needs written terms

Seems obvious, but any credit, repair or holdback should be in writing before you sign.

Your agent and your real estate attorney can explain how it works in your transaction.

How Bentley's runs the final walk in Greater Newburyport

On walkthrough day, our agents bring the purchase agreement, the inspection report and the repair receipts, walk every room with you, and test what the contract says stays with the house. When we find issues, we take them to the seller's side right away.

That keeps your closing on track.

Bentley's Real Estate is the #1 real estate brokerage in Greater Newburyport by market share seven years running, with 60+ agents across Newburyport, Amesbury and Newbury.

Your final walk with Bentley's

Buying a home on the North Shore? Call us at (978) 572-1200, and we will be with you from the first showing through the final walk and closing day.