Final Inspection Checklist
The last look before the money moves.
Free, no sign-up. 6 sections, 31 checks. Edit it to fit your own transaction.
The final inspection is the last moment at which a problem is the seller's rather than yours. Once completion happens, an appliance that has been removed, a leak that appeared last week, or a garden full of the seller's rubbish becomes your expense and your inconvenience.
It should be done as close to completion as possible, ideally with the property empty, and with the list of included items from the contract in your hand rather than in your memory.
Bring these with you
- The list of fixtures and fittings included in the sale
- Photographs from your viewings
- The survey or inspection report and any agreed remedial works
- A phone with a torch and camera, and a charger to test sockets
- Your lawyer contact details, reachable during the inspection
Items that should still be there
- Every appliance listed in the contract, in place and connected
- Light fittings, blinds and curtain rails as agreed
- Floor coverings that were included
- Garden structures, sheds and planting that formed part of the sale
- Keys for every door, window, garage, meter cupboard and shared entrance
- Manuals, warranties and service records for heating and appliances
Things that must work
- Heating fires and reaches temperature
- Hot water at every tap
- Every light switch and a sample of sockets in each room
- Toilets flush and refill, sinks and baths drain freely
- Windows and external doors open, close and lock
- Any alarm, entry system or electric gate, with codes handed over
Condition since you last saw it
- New damp patches, stains or cracks not present at the survey
- Damage to walls, floors or doors from the seller move-out
- Leaks under sinks and around appliances that have been disconnected
- Roof and gutters after any storm since the survey
- Agreed remedial works actually completed, to the standard agreed
Left behind and cleared
- Property empty of everything not included in the sale
- Loft, cellar, garage, shed and outbuildings cleared
- Rubbish and garden waste removed rather than bagged and left
- Property cleaned to the standard agreed
Readings and handover
- Photograph every utility meter with the reading visible
- Note the reading, meter serial number and the date and time
- Confirm which suppliers serve the property
- Confirm bin collection day and any recycling arrangements
- Count and label every key and remote handed over
Do it before the money moves, not after
Once funds are transferred, your leverage is gone and a dispute becomes a claim rather than a negotiation. Arrange the inspection for the morning of completion or the day before, and tell your lawyer you intend to do it.
If something is wrong, call your lawyer immediately
Do not raise it directly with the seller or the agent first. A retention from the completion funds can usually be agreed while the transaction is still live, and that is a conversation between lawyers. It is very difficult to arrange an hour after completion.
Photograph everything, including what is fine
Dated photographs of meters, appliances and each room protect you in both directions — against a later claim that you damaged something, and as evidence of condition if a defect emerges within weeks.
Common questions
Am I entitled to a final inspection?
It is customary in most markets and sellers rarely refuse, but it is not always a contractual right. Ask for it when the completion date is agreed rather than on the day, so it is expected rather than a surprise.
What if an included item has been removed?
Contact your lawyer before completion. Where the item is listed in the contract, a retention or price adjustment can normally be agreed while funds are still held. After completion your only route is a claim, which rarely justifies the cost.
Should I inspect if the property is still furnished?
Yes, but arrange a second look once it is empty if you can. Furniture hides damage to floors and walls, and an empty property reveals in ten minutes what a furnished one conceals entirely.
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