The Ins and Outs of Handling Post-Inspection Repairs as a Home Buyer

 

 

If you’re in the market for a new home, you’ll eventually realize how much goes into the process—if you haven’t already. From figuring out what kind of home you can afford to finding the perfect home and closing the deal, there are numerous steps a buyer must go through.

 

Somewhere in the middle of that process, you’ll need to have your potential home inspected for maintenance problems and needed repairs. Once you get the inspection results, you’ll need to determine which repairs (if any) you will ask the seller to address. Then, you’ll need to decide how you will go about making improvements if they’ll be left to you.

 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common repairs home sellers are and are not responsible for, as well as provide advice on negotiating their costs.

Repairs the Seller Should Cover

 

Some repairs should be the responsibility of the seller, including any structural issues and safety concerns. The exception to this rule is with as-is properties, or homes listed with a contractual agreement that the buyer is handling all repair issues. This includes even serious problems—such as structural flaws, damaged roofing and pest damage—so be sure you know if any homes you’re eyeing are being sold as-is.

 

If the home isn’t an as-is property and you decide to have the cost of these repairs credited by the seller, you will manage the problems yourself so you can choose the best contractor for the job. Common structural and safety issues to look out for are roof leaks, foundation failure, plumbing issues, weak framing, rotting floors, and termite damage.

 

Lower-Priority Repairs

 

There are other repairs that the seller shouldn’t be responsible for, which include cosmetic issues and minor problems caused by normal wear and tear. Here are a few fixes that fall under this category:

 

• Nail holes in drywall
• Damaged window treatments
• Stained carpet
• Scratches and faded finishing on hardwood floors
• Poorly-painted walls

 

Though the seller isn’t usually required to cover these kinds of repairs, many will if a buyer makes the request. This is particularly true if the home is in a buyer’s market where the seller has competition or if the buyer has made a compelling offer.

 

If the buyer won’t cover the cost of minor repairs and you don’t quite have the know-how to make the fixes on your own, connect with a local handyman through ChoreRelief. Through their service, you’ll be able to bring in an experienced and reliable handyman who can handle a variety of tasks in one visit.

 

Negotiating the Repairs

 

Once you know which repairs need to be made, you can then determine how to handle them. Many buyers opt to ask the seller for a credit for any necessary work. That is, the estimated cost of all the repairs the seller is responsible for is distributed to the buyer as cash-back credit. This can be ideal for buyers, because sellers are typically ready to move on with their lives, which means they may not prioritize the quality or timeliness of the repairs like you will. Plus, you won’t have to engage in a lengthy process of confirming that all the repairs are being completed satisfactorily.

 

It can also help to consider the big picture when evaluating which repairs you need done now and which ones can wait. Obviously, all structural and safety issues should be taken care of promptly, but some of the less severe problems can wait. For example, if you’re planning to remodel the kitchen in the future, you may not need to worry about replacing the faded cabinet doors or installing a new sink until you do the full remodel. Nonetheless, you could still request a credit for those things to help with the closing costs or keep for future repairs.

 

A lot goes into buying a home, and dealing with repairs is a big part of it. Make sure you understand which repairs the seller should and should not handle. Also, negotiate the repairs to work in your favor, consider asking for a cash-back credit, and think about the big picture of future renovations. Keeping tips like these in mind will help your home-buying process go much more smoothly.

 

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