What to do on your pre-settlement walk through

So it’s the day before settlement and you’re meeting your agent at the house that will soon be yours for the “pre-settlement walk through”. What are you supposed to be doing, though? Well, the first thing is to be sure to have the executed addendum with you that details any items the seller agreed to repair or replace and check that those repairs have been made. What else? Look for evidence of any new problems–roof leaks, broken windows, damage cause by the sellers moving their belongings out.  Do your best to test appliances. That means check that the oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal and washer and dryer work (if you can–if the owners are still there and have clothes in the washer, then don’t!).  I always encourage buyers to flush toilets, run water in sinks and showers and peek under sinks looking for leaks and make sure that water is draining well. Test the heat and air conditioning, if feasible. Check the garage doors are working.  Some people test all the door locks and the windows to be sure they open and close properly. Make sure that anything that was supposed to remain as per your agreement of sale or later addenda are there (playset? kitchen counter stools?) and that there’s nothing left the owners should have taken (old paint in the basement?  pool table?). These are some of the basics. If there’s anything else that you are particularly concerned about, check it!  Let your agent know if there’s anything amiss so that it can get addressed prior to settlement.