November 11, 2026

The moving truck is booked. Closing is tomorrow. You walk into the kitchen for one last look—and the refrigerator is gone.

Was it supposed to stay? That’s a question for the signed paperwork. And it’s a much better question to ask while you’re still standing in the kitchen than after you’ve moved in with a cooler full of groceries.

At your final walkthrough, compare the home with what you agreed to buy. Check for changes since your last visit, look at agreed repairs, confirm which items are staying, and flag anything you can’t verify. Here’s how to make that last visit count, especially if you’re closing during cold weather in Amarillo.

Bring the paperwork that tells you what to look for

Pull up the signed contract, any repair amendments, and any signed agreement listing items that will stay. If a repair called for an invoice or other documentation, have that handy too.

Walk in with three questions: What was supposed to be fixed? What was supposed to stay? What could have changed since I was last here? Those questions will get you further than a generic checklist alone.

Look at what the furniture used to hide

An empty room can tell a different story. Look behind where the washer sat, under sinks, and around exterior doors. Watch for water on the floor, fresh damage from move-out, or a window that no longer closes. Check the garage, backyard, and any storage building included in the sale.

If something catches your eye, take a photo and tell your agent what you saw. “Water on the cabinet floor under the kitchen sink” gives everyone something specific to work with.

Verify the agreed repairs and the items that stay

Read each repair item as written. If the agreement called for a contractor to evaluate a problem and complete a repair, check what the invoice actually says. A line that reads “service call” may leave you with questions about what work was performed. Ask your agent to clarify anything you can’t confirm. Leave technical testing to the appropriate professional.

Then check the items you expect to find: the refrigerator, garage remotes, or even that blue storage building in the backyard. A listing photo can help you remember what you saw. The signed paperwork is where you and your agent should check what was agreed to.

For a cold-weather closing, check the utilities before you go

Ask your agent ahead of time whether the electricity, water, and any gas service will be on during the walkthrough. With permission, you can do simple checks like turning on lights, running a faucet, and looking under the sink while it runs. If water is off, make a note that you couldn’t check for flow or visible leaks. If the house has been winterized, ask what was done and who should restore service before anyone turns anything back on.

If the home will sit empty after closing, make a plan for utility transfers, heat, and who can check on the property if the weather turns before you move in. That’s an easy detail to overlook when your calendar says “closing” on Friday and “moving day” the following week.

What if you find a problem right before closing?

Call your agent from the house. Send photos, explain what you observed, and point to the relevant agreement if there is one. For example: “The signed agreement lists the kitchen refrigerator, and the space is empty.” Your agent can help clarify what happened and coordinate next steps before you sign.

A final walkthrough is a chance to spot changes and check what was agreed. Keep your home inspection separate: if you need to know why something is leaking or whether a repair was done properly, that may call for a qualified professional.