Inspections and Repair Negotiations for Buyers

Price Isn’t the Only Negotiation Point When Buying a Home

Many buyers forget that the price isn’t the only or the last negotiation point in a real estate purchase. There are a number of contingencies and processes that happen before closing, and one that frequently causes deals to evaporate is the inspections and repair negotiations.  If you are not experienced or trained, inspections and repair negotiations can kill a deal, but a CENTURY 21 Gold agent is prepared to help you when buying a home.

Inspections in a real estate deal encompass many property aspects:

  • Structure
  • Roof
  • Mechanical equipment
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Pests & insect infestation
  • Mold, Asbestos & other environmental hazards
  • Radon Gas
  • Wells & water quality
  • Septic systems
Inspections and Repair Negotiations

 

Inspections and Repair Negotiations Need to be Followed Closely

While your deal may not require them all, and some may be combined and provided by a single inspector, it’s our job to help you to order the proper inspections, schedule them, and make sure that they’re completed on time. Failure to complete inspections and object to their results by deadline dates can result in the buyer’s inability to take any action based on the late results. We make sure that this doesn’t happen.

What Happens After the Inspection?

Once an inspection is completed, there can be issues uncovered that you weren’t expecting and want to have addressed by the seller. This is a second negotiation in the contract process. We go over inspection results with our buyers and prepare documents that are required to request seller action and corrections. Sellers do not normally have an obligation to undertake corrective action, so it becomes a critical negotiation, especially if the problems are significant.  There are also specific time frames that have to be followed for inspections and repair negotiations which your agent will adhere to so that you don’t lose your chance to ask for repairs.

We’re here for our buyers to assist in these negotiations as, next to selling price, inspections and subsequent repairs are the biggest killer of real estate deals. Sometimes creativity needs to be applied to keep your home deal moving when the seller balks at your repair or corrective action requests. We’re experts, as we do this every day. We also maintain an extensive contractor list that can yield just the right contractor to get a job done at a price the seller will agree to.

The key to keeping a deal going with inspection problems is for CENTURY 21 Gold agents to be involved every step of the way, as it’s something we do hundreds of times every year. We’ll make sure that every resource is employed to keep your home purchase on track, gain every possible concession from the sellers, and see you all the way from the time you sign your contract all the way to closing.