How long is a final walk-through?

Asked by: Armand Frami  |  Last update: December 10, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (57 votes)

How Long Does a Walk-through Typically Take? Expect a final walk-through to take at least half an hour or a few hours if the house or property is large. It's important to take your time during your walk-through to ensure the home is in the condition you'd expect it to be in before you're the homeowner.

What happens during a final walk through?

The final walk-through allows the buyer and their real estate agent to go through the house room by room. During the walk-through, the buyer has the chance to make sure everything is in the same condition (or better) as the last time they saw the home.

Can buyer walk away after final walk through?

A buyer can back out of a home purchase even after signing a contract if all agreed-upon contingencies are not met. Common reasons for buyers to back out include issues revealed during a home inspection and problems with financing.

Who attends a final walk through?

Typically, the final walk-through is attended by the buyer and the buyer's real estate agent, without the seller or seller's agent present. This gives the buyer the freedom to inspect the property at their leisure, without feeling pressure from the seller.

Does the house have to be empty for the final walk through?

This part is important: Having the walkthrough near closing day means the house should be empty, giving you a good look at the whole place as a blank canvas. The seller should have moved out their stuff and hopefully not damaged floors and walls in the process.

Final Walkthrough Tips BEFORE you close on a House!

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How long after final walk through is closing?

The final walk-through usually happens 24 hours before closing. But it can also take place on the same day. Avoid scheduling the final walk-through too far ahead of closing.

What happens if you find problems during a final walk through?

If you find something wrong during the final walk-through. If you see issues during the walk-through, the solution will depend on the severity of the defect. For example, if it's a busted doorknob, that's something that can be easily fixed without delaying the closing.

Do you get keys at the final walk through?

Do you get the keys during the final walk through? No, you should get the keys at the closing. That is the day when you officially take ownership of the property. However, most walk throughs occur a few days before closing, or even on the same day.

Do you get keys at closing?

On closing day, you'll sign a stack of documents, pay closing costs and receive the keys to your house.

Can seller attend the final walkthrough?

Typically, the final walk-through is only for the buyer and the buyer's real estate agent to attend. The seller and the seller's real estate agent usually do not attend. This gives the buyer and their agent plenty of time and space to look at the property without any pressure.

Can a buyer back out 2 days before closing?

You can back out of buying a house any time before closing. However, you'll likely face penalties — including possibly being sued — if the purchase agreement has already been signed and you're backing out for a reason that isn't listed as a contingency in the purchase agreement.

Can a seller pull out after completion?

Once contracts have been exchanged, if the seller or buyer pulls out, they will be in breach of contract. In this case, the other party can sue the one that has pulled out.

Who attends closing on a house?

You and any other co-borrowers. The seller of the property or their agent. Your real estate agent and the seller's real estate agent. Real estate agents are not required to be at the closing, but may choose to attend to make sure that the closing transaction goes through.

What is the walk through process?

Process walkthroughs are step-by-step demonstrations or explanations of a process or task conducted by the process or task owner in the presence of the internal auditor.

What happens if something breaks before closing?

Most contracts provide a process to deal with damage when and if it happens. Typically if there is damage, and it is less than five percent of the total value of the contract, both parties agree to move forward with the transaction. But the seller will need to remedy the damage prior to closing.

What's the point of a final walk through?

The final walkthrough is typically completed after the seller has moved out and allows the buyer to confirm that agreed-upon repairs have been made, and that there are no new issues. Essentially, the final walkthrough allows home buyers to do one last check.

Is a final walk through mandatory?

Do buyers really have to see a house that many times before they can officially say the house is theirs? The short answer: No, a final walkthrough is not required by law. However, it is in your best interest to do a final walkthrough before closing. With a purchase this big, you have nothing to gain and a lot to lose.

Is the new home orientation the same as the final walk through?

Your Construction Manager has reviewed any concerns you noticed during the New Home Orientation, and this final walkthrough will allow you to review any changes and ask questions. This walkthrough typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and at the end, you will sign off on the list indicating your new home is complete.

How many days before closing is the final walk through?

The final walk-through should be arranged by your real estate agent to happen within 1 week of the closing date but preferably within the last 3 days before closing. Having it close to the closing date will leave much less room for surprises to occur, like unexpected damage to the home during moving.

How long after closing on a house can you move in?

Some buyers may be able to negotiate an immediate possession date. This means as soon as the transaction is closed and the deed is recorded, the buyer can move in. A few other common buyer possession dates may be 15 days, 30 days, 60 days, or even 90 days after closing, depending on how much time the seller needs.

When can I get the keys to my new house?

On completion day, the money you're paying for the house gets transferred to the seller. Once this is done, the seller's solicitor confirms the payment, and voila, you get the keys to your new home. You will normally arrange to collect the keys from the estate agent or, in some cases, the seller themselves.

Who attends the final walkthrough?

Usually just the buyer and the buyer's real estate agent attend the final walk-through. This allows the buyer to properly inspect the home without any input or pressure from the seller.

Can a seller deny a final walk-through?

Buyers have a right to inspect their homes before buying them. This right is (usually) written into the purchase agreement. Sellers should be aware that refusing a walk-through could result in the buyers withdrawing and/or suing for damages.

What is the purpose of a walk thru?

A walk-through is the final time a buyer can inspect the property, prior to closing. The purpose of the walk-through is to make sure the home is in the condition you agreed to buy it in and that the seller has completed any repairs or replacements they agreed to make.