Final Walkthrough Checklist: What to Check Before You Close
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The final walkthrough takes place 24 to 48 hours before closing, and it’s your last chance to confirm that the property matches what you agreed to. Test every appliance, check every promised repair, and walk every room. Find a problem, and you have three real options: delay closing, negotiate a credit, or hold funds in escrow.
We tell every client the same thing before their walkthrough: this isn’t a second home inspection. It’s a confirmation that nothing changed since you signed.
Your last look before the deal is done.
What is a final walkthrough, and why does it matter
The final walkthrough is the buyer’s last inspection of the property before closing, usually scheduled 24 to 48 hours ahead. You’re confirming two things: that any repairs the seller promised got done, and that nothing new is broken.
This is not a home inspection. A home inspection happens earlier, before you sign the contract, and it’s where you actually negotiate based on the property’s condition. The walkthrough just confirms that condition hasn’t changed.
The room-by-room final walkthrough checklist
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Repairs | Every item the seller agreed to fix, actually fixed |
| Appliances | Stove, oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer, all running |
| Plumbing | Every faucet, toilet flush, shower, no leaks |
| Electrical | Outlets, switches, dimmers, all working |
| Doors and windows | Open, close, and lock properly |
| Walls, floors, ceilings | No new scratches, stains, or damage |
| Belongings | Seller’s items removed, included items still present |
| Pests | No droppings, nests, or other signs |
Bring your phone to test outlets and take photos of anything that concerns you. If the walkthrough turns up nothing new, you head straight to closing.
What if something’s wrong
Three real options exist once you find a problem. You can delay closing, though we generally advise against it, as it risks the entire timeline, especially when a lender is involved. You can negotiate a credit or repair commitment from the seller instead, which resolves most issues without derailing the schedule.
Or you can hold funds in escrow: the seller’s proceeds stay with the attorneys until the work is done and you’ve confirmed it. That option allows the closing to proceed on schedule while still protecting you.
New construction is a different walkthrough entirely
Buying new construction means two walkthroughs, not one. The first happens before you sign. That’s where you and your agent build a punch list, the specific items you want the sponsor to fix. The final walkthrough confirms that the punch list was actually completed.
As Daniel Gershburg, a partner at Konner Gershburg Melnick Darouvar, explains, contracts typically specify that “within 30 to 60 days post-closing, these items on the punch list will be fixed, provided the sponsor is capable of procuring the materials.” In practice, that means some punch list items get finished after you already own the place, not before.
Andrew Gerringer, Managing Director at The Marketing Directors, put it plainly: “We go through this all the time, and buyers typically have their lawyers hold something back until the work has been completed.” That’s the same escrow holdback mechanism as a resale, just applied to sponsor work instead of a seller’s.
What about a resale, sold as-is
Most NYC resales close as-is, and the seller won’t agree to repairs. The usual solution instead is a closing credit, a price reduction, or a cost offset in lieu of the seller doing the work themselves. That’s often the cleaner path anyway; you control the repair, not the seller’s contractor.
Our pillar guide to due diligence covers what else to verify before you’re at this stage. Once you’ve cleared the walkthrough, our NYC closing costs calculator breaks down what you’ll actually owe at the table. Our buyer rebate can offset a real share of it.
Common questions
What is a punch list? A list of repairs or finishing touches, most common in new construction, that the buyer wants the sponsor or seller to complete before or shortly after closing.
What’s an escrow holdback? Money withheld from the seller’s or sponsor’s proceeds at closing, released only once agreed-upon repairs are confirmed complete. It lets closing proceed on schedule while still protecting the buyer.
How is a final walkthrough different from a home inspection? A home inspection happens before you sign the contract and is where you negotiate based on the property’s condition. The final walkthrough just confirms nothing has changed since then.
Can I back out of a deal after a bad final walkthrough? Rarely without real consequence. More commonly, buyers negotiate a credit, get a repair commitment, or use an escrow holdback rather than walking away entirely.
How long does a final walkthrough take? Usually 15 to 30 minutes for a smaller unit with no major concerns, longer for a larger property or one with unresolved repair items to verify.
Nicole Fishman Benoliel co-founded NestApple in 2017. She's a lawyer admitted to the New York bar - her law degree is from La Escuela Libre de Derecho in Costa Rica, with further study at IE Business School in Madrid and an LLM from Fordham in New York. She does not act in a legal capacity at NestApple; every client is referred to an attorney who handles real estate deals full time.
