The House Truth Field Notes

SFR Pre-Close Property Walk Checklist

By Ben Vinson (Bennett Vinson)

Before buying a single-family rental, walk the property to document repairs, conditions you could not verify, and dependencies that could change the rehab budget or lease-ready date. Use those findings to decide whether to buy, revise the budget, or hold the decision until a material question is answered.

SFR pre-close property walk checklist

Water, structure, and roof

Record visible leaks, drainage concerns, roof condition, and signs of movement or damage. Save dated photos and flag findings that need a qualified specialist to assess.

Major systems

Record the observed condition of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and water heating. Document which tests were completed and which systems you could not verify, with the reason.

Utilities, HOA, and permits

Record utility status and flag approvals or open permits that could delay work or lease-ready. Record the source for each finding and what still needs confirmation.

Repairs and budget exposure

Measure confirmed work by room or system. Record the quantity, unit, and evidence. Keep allowances separate and state what would trigger each one or change its amount.

Make the buy decision and hand off open items

For each open item, record the evidence needed, likely cost or schedule impact, and decision owner. Acquisitions decides whether to require an answer before closing, revise the budget, or carry the item into Closing. Each item carried forward gets a named action owner, due date, and evidence needed to clear it.

Example of a Phoenix purchase with power off

Illustrative example. The HVAC cannot be function-tested because power is off. The walker records the equipment details and marks operation unverified. Acquisitions decides whether to require a test before closing or proceed with a documented allowance. If the deal proceeds, Closing hands utility activation and HVAC testing to named owners with due dates. Update the scope and lease-ready forecast after the system is verified.

Use the SFR Purchase Closing Handoff Checklist for open items that carry forward and the SFR renovation scope guide to turn confirmed findings into bid-ready work.

Price the walk findings with the SFR pre-purchase rehab budget guide.

See the SFR Operating Playbook for the full workflow and handoffs.