Do you get keys at final walk through?
Asked by: Jackeline Schinner | Last update: October 5, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (48 votes)
The final walk-through is usually scheduled the day before closing or on closing day. You should schedule it as close to closing as possible to ensure the home will be in the same condition when you get the keys and to avoid any problems at closing.
How soon after closing do you get the keys?
You won't be able to get the keys to your new house until the end of the closing process. This process can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete, depending on several factors. This includes how long it takes the lender to approve your loan, title search, home inspection, and home appraisal.
What happens during a final walk-through?
A final walk-through is your last chance to assess the state of a home before you finalize and close on your mortgage. They allow you to check the home for damage, problems, or other concerns and ensure that the home is in the condition the seller promised.
Do you get the keys when you complete?
Completion day is the final step for both the buyer and seller of a house. It's the day the money is transferred, and the buyer receives the keys for their new home. You might be feeling concerned, nervous, or excited about completion day – after all, you may have been waiting a long time to move into your new home.
Are sellers present at Final Walk-Through?
Typically, the final walk-through is attended by the buyer and the buyer's real estate agent, without the seller or seller's agent present. This gives the buyer the freedom to inspect the property at their leisure, without feeling pressure from the seller.
Final Walkthrough Tips BEFORE you close on a House!
Can buyers back out after final walk through?
A buyer can back out of a home purchase even after signing a contract if all agreed-upon contingencies are not met. Common reasons for buyers to back out include issues revealed during a home inspection and problems with financing. Having a backup offer in place can help soften the blow in case a deal falls through.
Does the house have to be empty for the final walk through?
It can sometimes happen on closing day itself. This part is important: Having the walkthrough near closing day means the house should be empty, giving you a good look at the whole place as a blank canvas. The seller should have moved out their stuff and hopefully not damaged floors and walls in the process.
Who gives you the keys at closing?
This is the final day when you and the seller will meet to sign the remaining paperwork and do one last walk-through of the property. Then, you will transfer the funds to the seller and they'll give you the keys to the home. At this point, ownership of the home is officially transferred to you.
How long after signing contracts do you get keys?
The most common period you can expect to wait between exchange of contracts and completion is between one and two weeks. This gives all parties involved time to make arrangements for their respective moves, knowing that everyone is legally committed to the moving date.
How long does the seller have to move out after closing?
Buyers generally might be expected to give the sellers 7 to 10 days to vacate the home after the closing date. Sellers may want more time in the home, but they can compromise by securing a place to stay for the short-term while they finalize their own situation.
What happens if you find something during the final walk through?
If a buyer uncovers issues during the final walk-through, the seller must work with the buyer to find a solution that satisfies the purchase contract. Buyers can back out if the home isn't up to the standards stipulated in the purchase agreement and are generally refunded their earnest money.
What is the walk through process?
Process walkthroughs are step-by-step demonstrations or explanations of a process or task conducted by the process or task owner in the presence of the internal auditor.
Can you negotiate after a final walkthrough?
Renegotiate your offer.
This could mean a last-minute change to the sales contract where the seller agrees to fix (and pay for) the defect, you agree to pay for the costs or you agree to split the difference of the costs. In some cases, you may have enough leverage to ask for a lower sale price.
Why am I not getting keys after closing?
Generally, keys at closing cannot be released until “funding” has taken place. Funding occurs after documents are signed and is essentially the exchanging of money. Understandably, sellers usually will not and title companies cannot release keys to the buyer until money has been transferred.
Can I move in on closing day?
Some buyers may be able to negotiate an immediate possession date. This means as soon as the transaction is closed and the deed is recorded, the buyer can move in. A few other common buyer possession dates may be 15 days, 30 days, 60 days, or even 90 days after closing, depending on how much time the seller needs.
When can I get the keys to my house?
Granted, unless you are closing after the Register of Deeds has closed for the day, you should realistically get your keys the same day as closing day. However, it may be a couple of hours after you have signed before the Register of Deeds records the Deed giving you possession of the house.
Can a buyer pull out after signing contracts?
The short answer is yes, a buyer is free to withdraw their offer at any time. However, depending on the contract, there may be penalties for doing so. Many purchase agreements typically include various contingencies meant to protect both parties from a deal that has gone wrong.
Where do you collect keys from on completion day?
As the seller, you have until 1pm on the day of completion to leave the property. If you're also buying a new home, you will have arranged with your solicitor to complete on the same day. You can then pick up the keys from the estate agent and move into your new home.
How long before completion do you pay a deposit?
You will have to pay a deposit on exchange of contracts a few weeks before the purchase is completed and the money is received from the mortgage lender. The deposit is often 10% of the purchase price of the home but it can vary.
Do you get keys on the day of closing?
Key takeaways
Closing on a house is a complex process that takes several weeks and involves many steps for you and your lender. On closing day, you'll sign a stack of documents, pay closing costs and receive the keys to your house.
How late in the day can you close on a house?
If you use a title and escrow company that handles every aspect of the sale of real estate and not just the closing, you are already ahead of the game. A title and escrow company can be ready for your closing any time, day or night, after hours, or even on weekends.
What gets signed at closing?
The final step in the financing process is to sign loan documents. These documents will take the form of a mortgage, promissory note, and/or a deed of trust depending on your market and the lender's requirements. The promissory note is the legal agreement to accept the loan.
Who attends final walk-through?
Who attends a final walk-through? Usually just the buyer and the buyer's real estate agent attend the final walk-through. This allows the buyer to properly inspect the home without any input or pressure from the seller.
How long after final walk-through is closing?
A final walk-through happens just before closing – often on the same day. Like the blue tape walk-through, you're confirming the home is in the condition you were promised – either what you saw on the closing day or what it should be after the seller makes any repairs you requested.
What happens if you find problems during a final walk-through?
If you find problems during the final walk-through, you'll need to address them with the seller before closing.