Q. Dear Chris,
I am selling a home for the first time and just received an offer. Before the offer was submitted, the buyer had a home-inspection completed, and the inspection report says that there are a few items that may not be up to standards or are in need of repair/replacing.
Before the inspection I was unaware that some of these items would not be deemed “up to standard,” and I’m wondering who is responsible for purchasing the replacement appliances and making small repairs? The buyer’s offer is above my asking price, and I am willing to replace/repair what is necessary to move forward with the sale, but I’m not sure what that entails. Can you help?
Terrence
A. Terrance,
Thank you for reaching out.
As a home seller, it’s best that you know the process before accepting any offers, and that you work alongside a trusted real estate professional who has experience assisting both buyers and sellers in your local market.
During most home sales, after a buyer has seen a home and is ready to place an offer, their real-estate agent will recommend having a home inspection completed before sending the offer to the seller’s agent. They do it, of course, to protect the buyer from unknown or undisclosed issues and to give them a better understanding of the house they are about to buy. It is important to remember that just because the buyer orders one or more home inspections, a seller is not obligated to make all repairs or modifications as a result of those inspections.
Typically, however, inspection reports are used to negotiate repairs of major problems, or environmental or safety hazards that may be noted. As the seller, you do have to fix the warranted items; generally, those are considered to be certain items that are necessary in order to live in the home, such as air-conditioning, electricity, and plumbing.
But, for the additional repairs deemed necessary by an inspection, negotiations and a detailed purchase contract should provide guidance to whose responsibility those will be. I hope you’ve found this information useful, and wish you luck in your first sale. Just remember, when buyers ask for repairs, you will soon be in their shoes. If you are selling, you may also be buying. If you say, “I’m not going to fix anything,” you may be saying goodbye to this buyer. And now because you’ve been told about the problems in your home, it is necessary for you to disclose those issues to the next buyer who comes around.
Chris
I am selling a home for the first time and just received an offer. Before the offer was submitted, the buyer had a home-inspection completed, and the inspection report says that there are a few items that may not be up to standards or are in need of repair/replacing.
Before the inspection I was unaware that some of these items would not be deemed “up to standard,” and I’m wondering who is responsible for purchasing the replacement appliances and making small repairs? The buyer’s offer is above my asking price, and I am willing to replace/repair what is necessary to move forward with the sale, but I’m not sure what that entails. Can you help?
Terrence
A. Terrance,
Thank you for reaching out.
As a home seller, it’s best that you know the process before accepting any offers, and that you work alongside a trusted real estate professional who has experience assisting both buyers and sellers in your local market.
During most home sales, after a buyer has seen a home and is ready to place an offer, their real-estate agent will recommend having a home inspection completed before sending the offer to the seller’s agent. They do it, of course, to protect the buyer from unknown or undisclosed issues and to give them a better understanding of the house they are about to buy. It is important to remember that just because the buyer orders one or more home inspections, a seller is not obligated to make all repairs or modifications as a result of those inspections.
Typically, however, inspection reports are used to negotiate repairs of major problems, or environmental or safety hazards that may be noted. As the seller, you do have to fix the warranted items; generally, those are considered to be certain items that are necessary in order to live in the home, such as air-conditioning, electricity, and plumbing.
But, for the additional repairs deemed necessary by an inspection, negotiations and a detailed purchase contract should provide guidance to whose responsibility those will be. I hope you’ve found this information useful, and wish you luck in your first sale. Just remember, when buyers ask for repairs, you will soon be in their shoes. If you are selling, you may also be buying. If you say, “I’m not going to fix anything,” you may be saying goodbye to this buyer. And now because you’ve been told about the problems in your home, it is necessary for you to disclose those issues to the next buyer who comes around.
Chris
Brought to you by the Chris Fritch Team Keller Williams
Classic Realty 763-746-3997
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