Walk the house again before the buyer’s final visit
Check the fixtures you promised to leave, and report anything that broke.
Use the same room list you used for showings and walk it again before the buyer's final visit. Test the lights, the appliances you are leaving, and the faucets. Replace bulbs that are out. A bulb is a few dollars, and a dark fixture at the walkthrough becomes a debate you could have skipped. The walk is easier when you have already done the tests they are about to do.
Read the inclusion list while you walk, not after. The contract says what stays. Do not remove a fixture, a rod, or an appliance you agreed to leave. If you are taking something, it should already be on the goes list and it should be gone or clearly labeled before they arrive. Remove trash, leftover paint, and hardware you are not including. A can of paint in the garage reads as a project you did not finish.
If something broke after you signed, tell the buyer in writing before they find it. A note the day before is easier to solve than a surprise at the walkthrough. Say what broke, whether you will repair it or credit it, and the amount if you know it. Rerun the net if the answer is money. Do not wait in the hallway to explain a leak you discovered yesterday.
Do a last pass for personal papers in drawers, including the kitchen and the office. Leave remotes, keys, codes, and garage openers where the contract says they go. If the contract is silent, put them in one labeled envelope on the counter and mention it in the note. Walk out and come back in through the front door once. Anything you would not want found in the next hour gets resolved now, on paper or in the truck, not during their visit.
What to do
- Walk the same room list and test the lights, appliances, and faucets you are leaving.
- Check the inclusion list in each room and do not remove an item you agreed to leave.
- Report anything that broke, in writing, before the visit.
- Leave remotes, keys, and codes where the contract says, and clear personal papers from the drawers.