While attending a home inspection when you’re under contract means another exciting opportunity to tour your home again, it can also be stressful, especially if any defects or concerns are uncovered. Fortunately, making reasonable requests after a home inspection is both common and simple. Here are some tips for making requests after a home inspection—
How to Make Reasonable Repair Requests After a Home Inspection
After a home inspection, you may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of asking for repairs, or even knowing what repairs to ask for! Here’s how to start:
Review the inspection report with your realtor and, if possible, the inspector. The inspection report can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to review it on your own. Ask your realtor and, if possible, the inspector to review the report with you. Then, you and your realtor can work together to prioritize items that should be addressed before closing.
Know what your contract says. Depending on what your purchase agreement says, you may not have the right to ask for repairs without breaching the contract. If you’ve agreed to purchase the home “as is” without any inspection requests, then the seller would have the right to pull out of the contract if you did ask for repairs. These clauses are common in a strong seller’s market , and this is something you should discuss with your realtor before entering the purchase agreement.
Forget about the small stuff. Don’t be the person that asks the seller to repair really minor things, like patching holes where pictures were hung. Instead, focus on the things that are more serious, dangerous to health or safety, or costly.
Be flexible. Remember, asking for repairs is a negotiation. When you ask for repairs, the seller may counter and offer to reduce the price instead. Your realtor will have a good idea of what’s fair and what deal you should accept.
Be reasonable. Being reasonable means doing all of the above—knowing what’s a priority, letting go of the small stuff, and being flexible. It’s also important to put yourself in the seller’s shoes and consider what you would be willing to repair in their position.
When you work with an experienced realtor, your realtor will be able to answer all of your questions about negotiating after an inspection. At The Jana Caudill Team, we’re always looking for new clients! Reach out to us today for services and experience you can trust.
