The final up and down inspection of the entire house by the buyer and seller is probably one of the most important steps in the home transaction process, and one of the most traumatic.
The final inspection usually takes place a few hours before closing and is the last opportunity for the buyer and his agent to inspect the home and make sure there are no problems.
The final inspection usually goes well, but sometimes problems can arise and may even derail the transaction altogether. Here are some of the issues that can affect the deal
No clutter in the house
Unless otherwise agreed, the seller should thoroughly clean up clutter before the final inspection.
If there is only a can of paint or a few bags of trash left there is no problem, but if there is too much trash, the buyer may ask the seller to come back and clean it up.
The general agreement is that the seller cleans the house, which is a vague term that may mean different things to different people. The house doesn't have to be spotless, but it shouldn't look like a disaster area either.
Interior furnishings and maintenance details should be negotiated in advance
By the time the final delivery is made, the house seems to be ready for the new owner to move in. At the same time, buyers and sellers negotiate maintenance or renovation matters by waiting until final acceptance when everything has been completed.
If a little extra time is needed due to unforeseen circumstances, the seller should notify the buyer prior to the transfer.
Personal property included in the transaction is gone, or will the seller take items that were promised, such as lights, curtains, furniture you wanted to buy with the house. There is a high probability that these things will cause the transaction to stall or cause a dispute.
The lawn is not mowed.
Generally, a real estate contract agrees that the seller will maintain the lawn until ownership is transferred, and that doesn't mean everything has to be mowed neatly. But if the grass is five feet tall, or if it dies during escrow, that is a problem that cannot be ignored.
Energy Supply
Usually the property contract states that the water and electricity supply must be in working order at the time of the final inspection. If there is no electricity and no running water at the time of inspection, the contract may technically be violated.
Interior Appliances
For the buyer, the final inspection is an opportunity to test all appliances in the deal to confirm that they are functioning properly. If you find that some appliances do not work, you can approach the seller for repair costs.
Severely damaged walls
When the seller removed a TV, artwork or home automation device that did not have walls, did it cause damage to the walls? This is the question.