From the final walkthrough to your first week in the home

What the walkthrough is for

A typical P&S gives the buyer a chance to inspect the property shortly before closing, at a time arranged through the agents. On this final walkthrough you are checking four things: that the home meets the delivery condition in the purchase and sale agreement, that the seller's belongings and debris are gone, that there is no new damage, and that repairs required by any addendum were done as agreed.

It is a check against the contract, not a professional inspection. Focus on what you can see and operate, the items the contract says stay with the house, and the agreed repair work. Bring the P&S, the repair addendum, a flashlight and a phone for photos.

• Book the time through your buyer's agent, early enough to leave room before closing
• Have the signed repair agreement and the list of included items with you
• Check that the seller has moved out, or is on track to deliver the home vacant as the contract requires

Room by room

Walk the home in order: each room, the basement, then the outside. Run each faucet briefly, flush the toilets, try the light switches and the heating and cooling thermostat, and look under sinks and at ceilings for signs of an active leak, including around pipe connections and the water heater. Check walls, door frames and trim for substantial damage from the move. Confirm that the appliances, light fixtures and window treatments named in the contract are still there and match the description.

You do not need to climb into the attic, take apart mechanical equipment or test outlets with instruments. Keep to what is safe and visible.

If something is missing or unfinished

If a repair is incomplete, an included item is missing, or there is new damage, photograph it and write a short note on the spot. Call your attorney before you sign closing documents. A promise made at the house does not settle anything on its own; the fix should be reviewed by the attorneys and put in writing.

Depending on the situation, your attorney may negotiate a closing credit, an escrow holdback from the seller's proceeds, or a short postponement of closing until the work is done. A holdback agreement should name who holds the money, the standard the work must meet, the contractor quote it is based on, and the completion deadline. A credit, a holdback or a new date can change the figures and dates in your loan and closing documents, so make sure your lender hears about it before you sign, not after.

• Photos and written notes for each problem
• A short list of missing or damaged items sent promptly to your attorney
• A written resolution signed by both sides before settlement

Closing, recording and keys

When the lender issues a clear to close, it generally means the loan conditions have been met, and the lender then prepares the documents and arranges to send the loan funds. In the days before closing, read your Closing Disclosure and compare it with your most recent Loan Estimate. With a mortgage, you must receive the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. If figures or terms change after that, ask your lender whether the change means a new waiting period.

Signing the closing documents does not by itself mean you can move in that minute. Signing, funding, recording the deed at the Registry of Deeds and handing over the keys are separate steps. A typical P&S provides for possession and delivery of the keys at closing, but when you actually receive them depends on your contract and on your closing attorney confirming that the sale is complete.

Ask your closing attorney when recording and key handover are expected, and book movers and contractors around that answer rather than around the time of the signing appointment.

• Confirm with your closing attorney the expected timing of recording and handover
• Check with your insurance professional when your homeowners coverage takes effect, so there is no gap
• Collect all keys, garage remotes, entry codes and equipment manuals at handover

Your first week

The first week is about security, utility accounts, and knowing where the main shutoffs are. Earlier tenants, contractors or others may still hold keys or codes, so re-keying is safer than relying on the keys you were handed.

To sell or transfer a home, the seller generally needs a certificate of compliance from the local fire department showing that the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms meet the requirements, and a typical P&S makes delivering it at closing the seller's responsibility. Questions about which alarms your type of home needs go to that department. After you move in, test the alarms yourself as well.

If you smell gas inside, do not switch lights or appliances on or off, do not open or close windows, and do not try to shut off the gas. Leave the building, call 911 once you are outside, and then contact the gas company.

• Re-key the exterior locks and reset keypad codes and garage openers
• Contact the electric, gas, oil, water and trash providers to confirm account transfer and billing start dates
• Test the existing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each level
• Locate the main water shutoff and the electrical panel so you can use them safely if a pipe leaks or a breaker trips