Should You Take an Inspector on a Final Walk-Through Before Closing on an Apartment?

June 30, 2015 — Buying an apartment in New York City is a complex affair. In this week's Ask Real Estate column in The New York Times, a reader asks Ronda Kaysen whether it would make sense to take a home inspector along on a final walk-through before closing on a one-bedroom apartment in a new condo development. Having an apartment inspected before you sign on the dotted line is always a good idea, explains Kaysen, adding that "even new construction can have windows that leak, faulty ventilation systems or poor water pressure." But say the inspector finds something wrong: "if an inspector finds that, say, the windows do not close properly, you would need to negotiate any repairs with the seller, and the seller would need time to fix the problem," she says. Kaysen advises having an inspector check out an apartment when you initially sign the contract, not right before closing. That way, if there's a problem, there's plenty of time to resolve it. So what's the point of a final walk-through then? "Use it to confirm the obvious," says Kaysen. "Do the doors have knobs and do the outlets have covers? Are the kitchen appliances installed and can they be turned on? Is there running water?" And take your broker with you!