What Should Atlanta Buyers Check During the Final Walk-Through?
By Kereen Henry, Associate Broker | Keller Williams Atlanta Partners
What should you check before signing?
Your final walk-through should confirm that the home’s condition, agreed repairs and included items match the purchase agreement before closing. It is a practical verification step, not a replacement for the professional inspection you arranged earlier in the transaction.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends completing a final walk-through before signing closing papers and checking both promised repairs and items the seller agreed to leave. For an Atlanta buyer, the useful question is specific: does the property you are about to receive match what the parties agreed in writing?
Start with the agreement, not your memory
Have your purchase agreement, amendments, repair agreement and relevant inspection pages available on your phone or in a simple folder. Make one short list of the items that need verification. A conversation about a refrigerator or chandelier is not the same as a written agreement that it stays.
Ask your advisor to coordinate access, utility availability and the seller’s move-out timing before the appointment. Leave room in your schedule to raise an issue before you are expected at the closing table. If the seller will remain after closing under an agreed arrangement, discuss how condition and possession will be documented at each stage.
Five areas that deserve a deliberate check
1. Repairs and documentation. Compare the completed work with the written repair agreement. Collect the invoices, receipts or warranties the agreement calls for. If a repair requires technical judgment, arrange appropriate professional verification; a quick visual look cannot establish that complex work was done correctly.
2. Appliances and included fixtures. Confirm the agreed items are present, including any specifically identified appliances, lighting or window treatments. Check ordinary operation where safe and practical. The National Association of REALTORS’ walk-through checklist includes appliances, heating and cooling, hot water and other household systems.
3. Condition after moving. Walk through each accessible room and storage area. Look for new damage, water stains, debris or belongings that should have been removed. Compare concerns with your earlier documentation instead of assuming every mark is new.
4. Exterior and access. Check the agreed exterior items and gather keys, garage remotes and relevant instructions. For a home with a gate, pool or other specialized equipment, plan the handover with the seller and appropriate service professional.
5. Building and community logistics. For a Midtown or Buckhead condominium, ask the building’s management about move-in procedures, elevator reservations and access credentials. For a gated community in Alpharetta or elsewhere in Metro Atlanta, confirm the process for changing resident access. Requirements vary by property; do not rely on a neighboring building’s policy.
What if a repair is unfinished or something is missing?
Photograph the issue and tell your advisor immediately, while there is still time to involve the seller’s representative, closing attorney and lender where needed. Identify the exact agreement at issue and the resolution you are requesting. A documented concern is more useful than a broad statement that the home is not ready.
Possible solutions may include completing the work, negotiating an approved credit or changing the closing arrangements. None is automatic. Any holdback or work promised after closing needs proper written terms and the necessary approvals. Ask the attorney about your contractual options before delaying, refusing to close or assuming you can cancel without consequences.
Avoid an informal promise to “sort it out later.” The CFPB notes that unresolved issues can affect closing and that breaking a purchase contract may carry financial consequences. Your specific agreement and circumstances control the next step.
How your advisor keeps the process focused
A useful walk-through plan gives each person a clear role: you identify concerns and priorities, your advisor coordinates communication and records the issues, the appropriate professional evaluates technical work, and the attorney addresses legal questions. If a proposed resolution changes financing or closing figures, bring the lender into the conversation promptly.
My recommendation is to prepare the checklist before closing week, then use the appointment to verify the details rather than reconstruct the negotiations. That keeps attention on the property and decisions that still need to be made.
Planning an Atlanta purchase? Contact me at 404-210-1674 or Info@KereenHenry.com to schedule a private consultation and build a clear plan from your search through closing.
Sources
Sources reviewed November 7, 2026. This guide offers general transaction planning; your purchase agreement and professional advice govern your situation.
About Kereen Henry
Kereen Henry is an Atlanta Realtor and Associate Broker with Keller Williams Luxury and founder of Kereen Henry Luxury Group.
With more than a decade of experience as a real estate professional and 17 years as a real estate investor, Kereen represents buyers and sellers throughout Metro Atlanta, from traditional residential properties to luxury real estate.
She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, a GUILD recognized luxury real estate professional, published author, speaker and member of the Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council.
Her approach combines market intelligence, discretion, strategic positioning and proactive representation to help Atlanta buyers and sellers navigate their next move.
Integrity in Every Move. Excellence in Every Outcome.
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