Imagine that you’re planning a wedding. After weeks of searching, you finally find the perfect venue online and call to schedule a tour… but why?

A friend of yours works there, so it’s pre-vetted, and your booking comes with everything you could possibly need. Plenty of space for the ceremony, a couple of lounge areas for the wedding party, valet service, catering… It’s all there.

So, really, what’s the point of touring the place if you already know it’s what you’ve been looking for all along?

Three words: because you’re excited!!!

You don’t tour the perfect wedding venue to talk yourself out of booking it. You tour the perfect wedding venue so you can imagine yourself walking down the aisle, enjoying a slice of cake with your loved ones, and dancing the night away.

Now, here’s how this concept applies to real estate:

When you’re about to close on a house and will be getting your keys right away, the benefits of a final walk-through are obvious. You get to make sure there’s no damage to the house, all personal items have been removed, and appliances are present as expected.

Did anyone break in and steal your copper plumbing? No? Excellent—you’re clear to close!

But let’s say you’re looking at delayed occupancy, i.e., you won’t move into your new home until a few weeks after closing. At that point, what’s the purpose of a final walk-through?

You guessed it: to get excited!!!

While final walk-throughs aren’t required in the state of Michigan, they’re such a fun way to celebrate this milestone in your life.

Plus, you still get to make sure the house appears as anticipated. You can still check for damage, get a good look at each of the appliances, etc.

So, whether you’re getting immediate occupancy or not, treat yourself to a final walk-through of your new home. In my experience as a realtor, it’s always worth it.