Can I ask for a credit instead of waiting for repairs?

Yes. If a repair is unfinished at the walkthrough, a common remedy is a credit at closing equal to the repair cost. Your agent negotiates it, and the closing agent documents it before you sign.

Should I bring the inspection report to the walkthrough?

Yes. Bring the signed purchase agreement, the inspection report, any repair addenda, and a phone to photograph issues. Comparing the walkthrough to the report is the only way to verify every agreed fix.

Do I need my REALTOR at the final walkthrough?

A walkthrough with your agent present is strongly recommended. Your agent knows the repair list and contract terms, can document problems on the spot, and coordinates the fix or credit with the seller's side before closing.

What Should I Look For During the Final Walkthrough?

Q: What should I look for during the final walkthrough?

Confirm agreed repairs are finished, contract items are still in place, there is no new damage, and systems and appliances work. Bring the purchase agreement, inspection report, and repair addendum so you can compare. Joyce England joins clients at walkthroughs across Mid-Michigan.

Q: When does the final walkthrough happen?

Usually 24 to 48 hours before closing, after the seller has moved out and agreed repairs are complete. Confirm the exact time with your agent, and schedule it during daylight so you can see clearly.

What should you look for during the final walkthrough? In short: confirm that the home you are about to close on matches the contract, that agreed repairs were actually completed, that no new damage appeared, and that the systems and appliances you are paying for still work. The walkthrough is your last chance to catch a problem before you own it, and it typically happens 24 to 48 hours before closing. I am Joyce England, a licensed Michigan REALTOR (Salesperson License #6501399419) with Keller Williams First in Grand Blanc, and this guide walks through a practical final walkthrough checklist for buyers across Genesee, Oakland, Livingston, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Lapeer, and Tuscola Counties.

In this guide

What Is the Final Walkthrough?
When Does the Final Walkthrough Happen?
What Should You Look For During the Final Walkthrough?
What Happens If Something Is Wrong?
What Should You Bring to the Walkthrough?
Final Walkthrough Tips for Mid-Michigan Buyers in 2026
How a Local REALTOR Supports You Through It
FAQ: Your Final Walkthrough Questions, Answered

What Is the Final Walkthrough?

The final walkthrough is the buyer's last visit to the home before closing. It is not a second home inspection, and it is not a chance to reopen the whole deal over small cosmetic details. It is a verification step: the seller has agreed, in the purchase agreement, to deliver the home in a certain condition, with certain items included and certain repairs completed, and the walkthrough is how you confirm that promise held up before the keys change hands.

If this is your first home purchase, the walkthrough can feel like one more item on an already long closing checklist. My complete first-time home buyer guide for Mid-Michigan shows where it fits in the whole process, and my contract-to-keys timeline maps every step between offer and closing. Here, we go deep on the walkthrough itself.

When Does the Final Walkthrough Happen?

In a typical Michigan transaction, the final walkthrough happens 24 to 48 hours before the closing date, ideally after the seller has moved out and any agreed repairs are finished. The exact timing is written into the purchase agreement, so review your contract and confirm the window with your agent.

Try to schedule the walkthrough during daylight hours. Natural light makes it far easier to spot paint mismatches, drywall patches, carpet stains, and exterior issues. And because the walkthrough is tied to the closing timeline, your agent coordinates the appointment directly with the listing agent so everything is documented before you sit down at the closing table. My guide to what happens after you accept an offer explains how this step connects to the rest of the pre-closing schedule.

What Should You Look For During the Final Walkthrough?

Build your final walkthrough checklist around five questions. If the answer to each one is yes, you are in great shape for closing day.

Were the agreed repairs completed?

This is the most important check you will make. Pull out the repair addendum from your inspection and compare it room by room: the drywall patch is filled, primed, and painted; the plumbing and electrical fixes actually work; the roof or gutter repair matches what was negotiated. Do not just glance at a room and assume the work happened. The steps between appraisal and closing often include a repair period, and the walkthrough is where you verify the outcome.

Are all the contract items still there?

Walk through the contract and confirm every item that was supposed to convey is present: kitchen appliances, window coverings, light fixtures, the basement freezer, the included washer and dryer, anything the seller agreed to leave. Appliances or fixtures sometimes get swapped or removed during the move, so check the brand and model against what you saw. If an item is missing, note it and tell your agent immediately.

Is there any new damage?

Moving furniture in and out can scuff walls, dent floors, and leave anchor holes where TVs were mounted. Walk each room checking for new damage that was not there at inspection: cracked tiles, torn screens, stained carpet, damaged countertops. This is a verification step, so compare against your inspection photos and notes rather than judging the home fresh.

Do the systems and appliances work?

Take a few minutes to test what you can reasonably test: run the dishwasher on a quick cycle, turn on the stove burners, flush toilets, run the water in every sink, flip light switches, set the thermostat once. The goal is not to re-inspect the home; it is to confirm the systems are still live and functional after the move-out. If anything is off, document it before closing.

Is the home clean and empty?

The seller should leave the home vacant unless the contract says otherwise: no trash, no leftover furniture, no personal belongings in the garage or attic. Confirm the utilities are still on and the yard is in the expected condition. Sellers leaving items behind is one of the most common walkthrough surprises, and it is easiest to resolve while the transaction is still open.

What Happens If Something Is Wrong?

Finding a problem at the walkthrough is stressful, but it is exactly why the walkthrough exists: you have options while the closing is still open. The most common remedy is a credit at closing, where the seller agrees to deduct the cost of the unfinished repair from your settlement. That keeps everyone on schedule and lets you handle the fix after you move in.

For larger issues, you can agree to delay closing until the repair is completed, or, if the problem is significant enough, you may have grounds to hold the seller to the contract's terms. What you should not do is stay quiet and sign. Your agent negotiates the remedy in writing, the closing agent documents it, and everyone signs knowing exactly what was agreed. For questions that involve contract language or legal rights, a Michigan real estate attorney is the right person to consult; I am a REALTOR, not an attorney, and I will gladly coordinate with your attorney on your behalf.

What Should You Bring to the Walkthrough?

A prepared buyer walks in with a short stack of paperwork. Bring the signed purchase agreement, the inspection report (especially the repair summary), any repair addenda or invoices, and your phone or camera to photograph anything you flag. A flashlight helps for closets, basements, and outdoor utility areas. With those in hand, you can verify every agreed item on the spot instead of relying on memory, and I recommend every buyer bring the inspection education they gathered earlier in the process.

Final Walkthrough Tips for Mid-Michigan Buyers in 2026

The 2026 Mid-Michigan market gives buyers a strong reason to keep the walkthrough on the calendar. Recent third-party data shows Genesee County's median sale price near $239,000 for the three months ending August 2026, with homes spending a median 26 days on the market, and Grand Blanc has seen a more competitive picture, with median sold prices reported around $301,000 by one tracker and $269,500 by another over the past 12 months. Figures vary by source and month, so treat them as context, not as a substitute for the current numbers in Joyce's dedicated Genesee County market updates on this blog.

The bigger trend worth knowing: the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate stood at 7.18 percent in the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending November 5, 2026. With rates near multi-year highs, buyers are paying attention to every dollar of the purchase, and that discipline extends naturally to the end of the process. A home that needs unexpected repairs right after closing costs time and money you did not budget for, so protecting the deal with a thorough walkthrough is not being difficult; it is being smart with financing that already carries a higher monthly payment. Rates quote daily and vary by lender, so confirm current pricing with your loan officer, and remember that verifying loan details is the lender's job, not the agent's.

One more 2026 note: because buyer competition in parts of Mid-Michigan has pushed some buyers to waive or shorten financing and inspection contingencies, the final walkthrough can carry more weight than it used to. If an inspection contingency was waived, the walkthrough is still your moment to verify condition and contract items. Never let a handshake replace the written verification. My guide on contingencies that protect buyers explains which protections matter and when.

How a Local REALTOR Supports You Through the Final Walkthrough

The final walkthrough is one of those moments where a local REALTOR earns their place beside you. I know the repair list because I helped you build it from the inspection. I know the contract terms because I negotiated them. And I know Mid-Michigan housing stock, from Grand Blanc family homes to Fenton and Linden properties, new construction, condos, and estate homes, because I have guided buyers through this exact step across the region since I was licensed in 2014.

At the walkthrough, I bring the paperwork, document everything with photos, and if something is off, I coordinate directly with the seller's agent to get it resolved in writing before closing day. You get a calm, organized final step instead of a stressful one. Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth, the walkthrough should leave you confident about the keys in your hand, and my job is to make sure it does. If you are starting your search or you are already under contract, reach out, call or text 810-513-3335, or request a free, no-obligation home valuation if you are on the selling side. I serve buyers and sellers across Genesee, Oakland, Livingston, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Lapeer, and Tuscola Counties, and I am available Monday through Friday with appointments outside regular hours when your schedule needs it.

One honest note about expertise: I am a real estate professional, not an attorney, lender, appraiser, or home inspector. For contract questions, financing details, valuation disputes, or property condition, verify those specifics with the qualified professional in that field, and I will coordinate with them on your behalf through closing.