Buying a home in Markham is a joyous, yet stressful time. Once you’ve gone through the negotiation process and bought your home, you may believe all that’s left to do is pack. But, there is one final step right before closing that is very important: the walkthrough. It is at this point where you’ll determine if the home has been left in the same shape that it was when you viewed it at point of purchase. You will also want to make sure anything that was agreed-upon in the offer was done. But, sometimes walkthroughs can come with some surprises. Here are a few of them.
1. Undisclosed house flaws
With all the staging going on during the home-selling process, homeowners might have hidden little flaws under rugs, artwork or furniture. There could be broken floor tiles, discoloured wood, dents, scratches and more. You might be shocked to find the home not looking as good as it was portrayed.
2. Moving damages
Something always gets broken during a move, but if it is your new house and the Markham home sellers made the damage, they will be liable to fix it. If they dented the walls, damaged the floors or broke something, take note of it and ask your agent to speak to their agent about getting repairs done before move-in day.
3. Furniture left behind
It isn’t uncommon for home sellers to leave something behind. The question is, do you want it? It is the seller’s responsibility to remove all furniture and belongings from the home before you take possession. This includes leaving items at the curb that do not have a defined pick-up day.
4. Required repairs not completed
The majority of sellers are going to follow all of the terms of the offer and get the required repairs done, but it is your job to ensure they did them while inspecting the house during the final walkthrough. You’ll also want to make sure it is done properly and a bandaid fix wasn’t applied.
5. Items swapped out or taken
All of the fixtures and other items that were agreed to be left in your offer should still be in the home. If the homeowner replaced the beautiful light fixture in the dining room with a much less expensive one and it wasn’t excluded in the offer, it is up to them to put it back. If they agreed to leave a backyard playground and all you see is a patch of grass, your agent will have to speak to their agent, as this could stall your closing.
When heading for your final walkthrough, take a checklist with you so you can make notes and ensure everything is as it should be for you for the closing. Your agent can help you find what you are looking for.
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