Taking possession tomorrow - question

So we are supposedly getting the keys to the house we bought 10 days ago tomorrow. Any advice on what to be on the lookout for at the final inspection? What if something is missing or damaged? How is that handled? I'm going to call our lawyer in the morning but was looking for some sound advice here.

I'm not a negative person but I do not trust the seller and want to have an idea what to expect could go wrong.

Thanks!

Taking possession tomorrow - question

I would think that there would be money in escrow that you would be entitled to if something is wrong/damaged

Turn on EVERYTHING..stove, oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer, all faucets, all lights, etc. open/close all the windows..

Re: Taking possession tomorrow - question

If you have a basement, check it out while you have the faucets upstairs running (shower, sinks) to see if any pipes leak. If we did that, we might have noticed that the pipe above the washer/dryer in our house leaked whenever the upstairs shower was on if we had done that!

Re: Taking possession tomorrow - question

Thanks ladies!

Re: Taking possession tomorrow - question

Message edited 7/23/2012 10:38:37 AM.

Re: Taking possession tomorrow - question

Did you do a final walk through before closing? If so, you just want to do the same thing to make sure nothing has broken or been damaged during the 10 days the seller remained in the home.

If not, then you want to thoroughly inspect the property... test appliances, turn on AC, run water, flush toilets, check windows, walls, floors, etc. A lot of times, your home inspector will include a list of things to check at the final walk through in his report, if you want some kind of checklist. Or I am sure you can find one online.

Also, assuming the seller is there, and this wasn't already done, make sure they show you anything you need to know (where the main water shut off is, how to work appliances, sprinklers, etc.) and leave you any manuals or warranties they have. It's your last chance to ask them any questions about the house.

As I am sure your attorney will tell you - you need to contact your attorney asap after the walk through to either let her know everything is ok or let her know of any issues. If you do see a problem, it's a good idea to bring a camera to document it. I am sure money was held in escrow, since you didn't take possession at closing, so your attorney needs to know if everything is ok so the money can be released. And she needs to know if there's a problem so she can negotiate the issue with the other attorney if necessary.

Good luck and enjoy your new home! Try to think positive.