Possession day is not the time to discover that the agreed repair was never completed, the furnace is not working, or the garage remote is missing. The best questions before possession day are practical, specific, and tied to the condition of the home you are about to own. Ask them early enough that your real estate agent and lawyer can act if something is wrong.
For Edmonton-area buyers, a final walkthrough is especially valuable. Cold weather, recent vacancy, snow-covered grading, and last-minute moves can hide problems that were not obvious during the inspection. This is your final opportunity to confirm that the home is in the expected condition before funds are released.
Best Questions Before Possession Day
1. Have all agreed repairs been completed?
Start with the repair agreement, not memory. Ask your agent to confirm exactly what the seller agreed to repair, replace, or have assessed. Then verify the work during your final walkthrough.
Ask for invoices, contractor reports, warranties, and before-and-after photos where appropriate. A new furnace control board, repaired roof flashing, plumbing repair, or electrical correction may look fine on the surface while leaving unanswered questions about who did the work and whether it was completed properly.
If the agreement called for a licensed trade, do not accept a vague assurance that it was handled. Ask who completed the work and whether documentation is available.
2. Are there any new leaks, moisture marks, or signs of water entry?
Water problems can change quickly. Look below sinks, around toilets, near the water heater, at basement walls, and around windows. Check ceilings for fresh staining, especially after rain or snowmelt.
In Edmonton homes, pay close attention to the basement and the area around the foundation. Efflorescence, damp drywall, a musty odor, or a newly placed dehumidifier can point to moisture concerns worth addressing before possession. If you see something that was not present at the inspection, document it with photos immediately.
3. Is the heating system operating normally?
A furnace may have worked during the inspection but develop a problem after the house sits vacant, temperatures drop, or the seller changes thermostat settings. Turn on the heat, listen for unusual cycling, and make sure warm air is reaching the major rooms.
Ask when the furnace was last serviced and whether there have been recent repairs. If the home has a boiler, heat pump, fireplace, or in-floor heating, confirm those systems are functioning as expected as well. Mechanical repairs are rarely cheap, and possession day is a poor time to inherit a no-heat emergency.
4. Has the water been left on, and does the plumbing still work?
Run hot and cold water at several fixtures. Flush toilets. Check under sinks. Look for slow drains, dripping valves, and water around the base of toilets. If the home has been vacant, ask whether the water was shut off or plumbing was winterized at any point.
You should also ask about known piping materials and prior plumbing issues if they were raised during the inspection. A small drip or slow drain is not always a deal-breaker, but it should not become a surprise repair after you receive the keys.
5. Are the electrical panel, outlets, and safety devices unchanged?
You do not need to perform a full electrical inspection during the walkthrough, but you should confirm that the electrical system appears as it did when you bought the home. Check that the panel is accessible, no new damage is visible, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are present.
Ask whether any electrical work has been completed since the inspection. If so, request the paperwork. A missing cover plate, exposed wiring, tripped breaker, or disconnected smoke alarm deserves attention, particularly when the issue was not part of the original deal.
6. Are the included appliances working and still in the home?
Confirm which appliances, window coverings, shelving, garage-door openers, and fixtures are included in the purchase contract. Then physically check them. Turn on the dishwasher, range hood, and stove if practical. Open the refrigerator and freezer. Test the washer and dryer connections if those appliances are included.
Ask whether the seller has removed anything that was supposed to remain. It happens more often than buyers expect, particularly with wall-mounted televisions, custom shelving, smart-home equipment, and extra garage remotes.
7. What keys, remotes, codes, and access devices will be provided?
A complete handover means more than a front-door key. Ask how many keys you will receive and whether there are keys for the garage, shed, mailbox, side gate, utility room, and any storage locker. Confirm the number of garage remotes, fobs, alarm codes, smart locks, and keypad codes.
It is wise to change exterior lock cylinders or rekey the home after possession, even if every key is handed over. You cannot know who had access before you did.
8. Are there warranties, manuals, and service records for major systems?
Ask for documents related to the furnace, water heater, air conditioner, roof, windows, appliances, and any recent renovations. Transferable warranties can have deadlines or conditions, so you need the paperwork promptly.
Useful records may include:
- Furnace or boiler service invoices
- Roof replacement paperwork and warranty details
- Appliance manuals and purchase records
- Receipts for plumbing or electrical repairs
- Permits and final approvals for renovations
Not every home will come with a perfect file of documents. Still, records help you understand age, maintenance history, and what a contractor may need later.
9. Were permits obtained for renovations or structural work?
Ask this question if the home has a finished basement, new deck, removed wall, renovated kitchen, added bathroom, garage conversion, or recently replaced mechanical equipment. A polished finish does not prove that work met code or was approved where approval was required.
This does not automatically mean the deal should fall apart if records are unavailable. It does mean you should understand the risk. Your agent and lawyer can help you determine what documentation matters most for the specific property and agreement.
10. Has anything changed since the inspection?
This is one of the most useful questions to ask the seller through your agent. The answer should cover damage, repairs, insurance claims, water events, appliance failures, pest activity, and changes to the property or included items.
A home can be damaged during a move-out. A frozen pipe, broken window, dented wall, or leaking appliance line can occur after your inspection and before possession. The seller is generally expected to maintain the property in substantially the same condition, but you need to identify changes before the transaction is finalized.
11. Are the exterior, roofline, and drainage still in acceptable condition?
Walk around the house if conditions allow. Look for damaged siding, loose downspouts, broken fence panels, missing eavestrough sections, and new exterior damage. Check that downspouts discharge away from the foundation where visible.
Snow can limit what you can see, which is why detailed inspection photos matter. At JBR Inspections, 4K drone roof photos and thermal imaging give buyers a stronger record of the home’s condition before closing. At the walkthrough, compare anything questionable against the inspection findings and photos.
12. Is the property clean, empty, and free of unwanted items?
Unless your agreement says otherwise, the home should be reasonably clean and emptied of the seller’s belongings. Ask what will happen to anything left in the garage, shed, basement, or yard. Old paint cans, construction debris, furniture, and hazardous materials are not a welcome possession-day gift.
Also confirm that garbage, recycling, and yard waste have been handled. A full bin is manageable. A garage full of abandoned belongings is a different conversation that should be raised before funds are released.
13. Have utility accounts and services been arranged?
Ask your agent or lawyer what the local process requires, then arrange electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, internet, and insurance ahead of time. You do not want to arrive at your new home with no heat, no power, or no coverage.
Ask whether the seller has provided details about utility providers, alarm monitoring, rented equipment, or irrigation systems. If there is a rental water heater, security system, solar equipment, or other contract-based service, understand whether it transfers, ends, or requires a new agreement.
14. Is there a condo, HOA, or community document issue to resolve?
For a condo, ask whether there are outstanding fees, upcoming special assessments, building envelope concerns, or changes to rules that affect your plans. For a property with a homeowners association, ask about dues, architectural restrictions, and responsibilities for common areas.
These questions often belong earlier in the buying process, but possession day is a final checkpoint. If you are relying on access to a parking stall, storage unit, amenity, or shared road, make sure the details match your paperwork.
15. What happens if we find a problem at the final walkthrough?
Ask this before a problem appears. Your agent and lawyer should explain the process for documenting an issue, notifying the right parties, and determining whether holdbacks, repairs, credits, or another solution may be appropriate. The answer depends on your contract and the nature of the problem.
Do not treat a serious new issue as something to sort out casually after closing. Take photos and video, write down the time and condition you observed, and contact your agent immediately. A clear paper trail gives you a far better chance of reaching a fair resolution.
Possession day should feel like the start of homeownership, not the beginning of a repair dispute. Bring your inspection report, repair agreement, and camera to the final walkthrough. Ask direct questions, trust what you can verify, and speak up before the keys change hands.