For those buying a new property, a purchaser normally conducts a final inspection of the property either on the morning of the settlement or the afternoon before. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure the property is in the same condition as when the Contract was entered into, usually 6 weeks before. It should be arranged with the real estate agent handling the sale.
The purchaser should check that everything is in the same working order, there is no new damage anywhere and that all rubbish has been removed since the vendor, according to the Contract is selling the property with vacant possession. If, for instance, a window has been recently damaged, the purchaser is entitled to insist it be repaired or that the vendor make an allowance for the cost of repair.
A purchaser should take along a copy of the Contract for the final inspection as it contains a list of the items included in the sale and those which are excluded. None of the items which are included can be removed by the vendor and conversely none of the items excluded can be left behind.
If a purchaser notices any issue on final inspection he or she should immediately contact their solicitor so that, if necessary, a negotiation can take place with the vendor’s solicitor to resolve the issue which may include reducing the purchase price, removing an item from the property or restoring an item that should be there.
September 2023