A buyer walkthrough (also called a final walk or buyer’s inspection) is a scheduled inspection just before closing where the buyer tours the completed or nearly completed home and documents any items that need attention. The buyer typically walks the home with the builder or contractor, notes any cosmetic or functional defects, and creates a list of items to be corrected. This might include touch-ups, missing fixtures, appliance installation issues, or incomplete landscaping.
The buyer walkthrough is distinct from the contractor’s pre-close-out walk and the municipal inspector’s walk for the Certificate of Occupancy. The buyer is the end user and has a stake in quality; their punch list often includes minor cosmetic issues that the builder might not flag. Standard practice is for the buyer to accept the home subject to completion of the punch list, either before closing or within a short post-close period (7 to 14 days). If major defects emerge during the buyer walk, it can delay closing. Some builders stage final punch-list work to be completed after closing, with a holdback from the final payment to incentivize completion. Clear documentation of what was on the punch list and what was corrected protects both the buyer and builder from post-close disputes.