The last step in selling your home

You are selling your home and the movers have packed and taken away your belongings. You’re done now right? Not quite.

As much as you are probably tired of all things related to selling your home, you have one last task to complete. You need to make sure the house is ready for the final walk through. The final walk through is the buyer’s chance to go through the house and make sure all the appliances work, the systems are functioning and the house is clean and empty. 

Having represented many buyers and attended countless walk throughs we can tell you that the walk through is really important. Imagine yourself in the buyers shoes - they have been waiting weeks to make your house their new home and probably haven’t been inside the place since their structural inspection. The last time they were there, it might have still been furnished and filled with your belongings. They are probably both excited and nervous in anticipation of the walk through. As you imagine yourself in their shoes, walk through the house, taking a few minutes to inventory how things look and what final tasks still need to be completed.

We know that after emptying a home, the last thing any seller wants to do is more housework. The purchase contract indicates that the house is to be empty of personal belongs and “broom swept” - so empty and clean is the goal. If there are any items you think the buyer might want you should confirm that ahead of time and not assume. Some buyers are grateful for tools, extra house materials, light bulbs, etc. Some feel strongly that they don’t want any paint or other household chemicals left behind. Beyond broom swept, the bathrooms and kitchen should be clean. It’s not much fun to clean someone else’s sticky fridge or remove hair (that isn’t yours) from a shower drain. Make sure all the appliances work and bonus points for leaving any manuals and extra materials like furnace filters or refrigerator light bulbs. The last area some sellers neglect is the outside. If it’s summer, the yard should be recently mowed and in the winter, the driveway and walk way should be free of snow.

Once all this is complete, you can feel good about turning over the keys to the new owners!

Photo credit: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages