The Walk Through

by Darrin DeRoches September 29 - October 5, 2011

Some agents try to minimize or even eliminate the all–important walk through.  This happens once the deal is finalized and the buyers take an hour or so with the sellers and do a “walk through” and go over the property.  It may seem trivial to some, but it can be so important in the stressful times of buying a house.  A lot of agents will try to avoid this part of the transaction for one reason – they’re lazy.  They think it is a waste of time and since the deal is done why bother wasting a couple of hours with their clients when all you need to know is the where the main water shut off is.  Nowadays there are some many reasons to make a walk through a priority.     The buyers intention during the “walk through” is to understand where everything is and to really know what they need to take care of before moving in.  The sellers can show them where the main water shut off is, they are usually hidden. Is the satellite dish staying – which company is it? Is the surround sound that is installed in the walls working? How do you hook it up? Will the flat screen bracket hold up to a 60 inch screen? Garage doors openers and the codes to them?The alarm company and their codes? Is their oil in the tank for the winter season and where do you buy it from? The pool is closed properly but who opens it how do you heat it, where is the diving board? Is the cistern full of water, where are the pumps, who do you, buying water from? Last time the septic system was pumped and where is it? How does the fireplace work? Who insures the property now and is it worth staying with the same company? Is anything rented and do you want to take on the rental agreement. What day is garbage day? Mail delivery or keys to the mail box? Are there warranties on any of the appliances?  Neighbours, how are they? Local markets, kids sport leagues, volunteer or charities?     All these questions and more come to the surface once you begin to really look into your property.  Yesterday we did a walk through on a country property and the gun safe, garlic bulbs, weather system, manure, bird watchers, snow blower, generator, water purifier, driveway sealant, owl roost and donating white oak seedlings all came up in the conversation about the property.  The day started out with the buyers wife feeling overwhelmed to them walking up the laneway holding hands and she says “I love it here.” I had done my job and now they can focus and getting their house ready to sell and start packing to move to their dream property.  The walk through is invaluable in today’s market, the sellers liked my buyers so much they decided to leave the weather station and a big screen TV !  V     Darrin DeRoches is a local real estate and mortgage broker. He can be reached to answer questions, comments or stories about real estate experiences through this weekly column at mail@uniquerealty.ca.