Do Sellers Have To Fix Everything On Home Inspections?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do sellers have to fix everything on home inspections? What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection? The short answer is none. From a legal standpoint,

there are no mandatory repairs after a home inspection

. That doesn’t mean, however, that sellers can dismiss the home inspection offhand or refuse to pay for requested repairs and expect the sale to proceed.

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What should I ask seller to fix after inspection?

  • Major electrical issues that are safety or code issues.
  • Plumbing, drainage, sewer, septic, or water issues (or well water issues, if applicable)
  • Mold or water damage.
  • HVAC problems that affect home comfort.
  • Leaking roofs or missing shingles.
  • Termite and pest damage.

How do you negotiate after a home inspection?

  1. Review the report with your real estate agent. …
  2. Prioritize repairs by cost and severity. …
  3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. …
  4. Request concessions for major items. …
  5. Get quotes from contractors. …
  6. Take the market into consideration. …
  7. Know what “as-is” means.

What are red flags in a home inspection?

How do you counter after an inspection?

  1. Closely assess the home inspector’s report.
  2. Consider the associated costs of repair.
  3. Determine the state of the real estate market.
  4. Look at comparable properties.
  5. Communicate and collaborate with the buyer and their agent.

Can you ask for price reduction after inspection?


You can realistically negotiate for anything after a home inspection

, but getting the seller to agree to your terms is the real trick. You will need plenty of evidence such as pictures and repair estimates, as often a seller will actually be unaware of the defect in question.

What should I do before a home inspection?

  1. Provide open access to areas that need to be checked. …
  2. Clear the perimeter. …
  3. Check the roof. …
  4. Keep a clean house. …
  5. Replace any bulbs that are out. …
  6. Make sure your toilets are functioning properly. …
  7. Put in a fresh furnace return filter.

Can you negotiate after appraisal?


You can still negotiate after an appraisal

, but what happens next depends on the appraisal value and the conditions of the contract. Buyers usually have a “get out” option if the home appraises low and the seller won’t budge on price.

What should I be worried about a home inspection?

  • Problem #1: Rundown roofing. …
  • Problem #2: Drainage issues. …
  • Problem #3: Faulty foundation. …
  • Problem #4: Plumbing problems. …
  • Problem #5: Pest infestations. …
  • Problem #6: Hidden mold. …
  • Problem #7: Failing heating systems. …
  • Problem#8: Electrical wiring.

Are home inspectors biased?

They’re paid for the service they provide—home inspection—and therefore, offer an unbiased opinion on the condition of the home. With a real estate agent, or even a lender, a percentage of the sale is taken as profit, so

it’s possible for them to be biased in their assessment

.

How much does a home inspection cost?

“Home inspections generally cost

between $300 and $450

,” says Angie Hicks, co-founder of the home services website Angie’s List. Hicks says buyers can expect to pay at least $400 for a home inspection from a reputable company on an average 2,000-square-foot home.

What is a fair counter offer on a house?

You can

increase your asking price by enough to still get as high as your list price after paying the buyer’s closing costs

. If your list price is $200,000, and the buyer offers $190,000 with $6,000 toward closing, you would counter with something between $196,000 and $206,000, with $6,000 for closing costs.

How do I write a letter to the seller after a home inspection?

You want to

write clearly and in simple, plain language to get to the heart of what it is you want done

. Let the inspection report do the talking. Quote items in the inspection report and give reference numbers for pages or sections of the report where the item appears. Let the inspector’s words inform what needs done.

How do you negotiate a buyer’s price?

  1. Build value.
  2. Lead the negotiation.
  3. Effect emotions.
  4. Trade. Don’t cave.
  5. Plan to Win.
  6. Always be willing to walk.

Can you renegotiate a house price after offer accepted?


Others may offer more but plan to use the inspection to renegotiate the price

. You will have a choice on how to proceed on those offers. You may accept the lower offer and move forward, or you may take the second offer but give the buyer a very short period of time to get the inspection done and completed.

Can you still negotiate after accepting an offer on a house?

A seller might be intrigued by your offer overall, but still want to negotiate some of the finer points of your terms to their advantage.

The seller can do so by submitting a counteroffer

. The good news is that if a seller is countering, they’re interested in your offer.

Can you renegotiate a house price?

Negotiate the House Price Down

Negative survey results can affect the value of a property. This means

a buyer can legally ask for a renegotiation of the price to reflect its current condition

. Even if an offer has been accepted, it’s still possible to make changes to the contract as they haven’t been signed.

How should a seller prepare for an inspection?

  1. Clean and declutter inspection access points. Clean furnace filter. …
  2. Test functionality of the items a home inspector will check. …
  3. Take basic safety and security precautions. …
  4. Make necessary repairs to the property. …
  5. Complete exterior home improvements.

What is involved in a home inspection?

What to ask before making an offer on a house?

  • Why is the seller selling the house? …
  • How much did they pay for the house? …
  • How much does the seller have left on their mortgage? …
  • What’s the housing market like in your area? …
  • Are there any recent sales to compare this property to?

Should you ever pay more than appraised value for a home?

Lenders want to ensure the homes they’re financing are worth the prices being paid, which is the major reason for property appraisals. Though

there’s no law against paying more than a property’s appraised value

, mortgage lenders almost never loan more than that value.

What hurts a home appraisal?

Things that can hurt a home appraisal


A cluttered yard, bad paint job, overgrown grass and an overall neglected aesthetic

may hurt your home appraisal. Broken appliances and outdated systems. By systems we mean plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical systems.

Do Appraisers try to match sale price?

What are major problems in a home inspection?

  • Structural Issues. Structural issues can generally be seen in the attic or crawlspace. …
  • Roof. …
  • Plumbing. …
  • Electrical. …
  • Heating and Colling System / HVAC. …
  • Water Damage. …
  • Termites.

Should I be scared of a home inspection?

Unless it’s new construction, no home will be in perfect condition. So don’t panic when an inspection yields less than stellar results.

What does marginal mean in a home inspection?

MARGINAL –

Indicates the component will probably require repair or replacement anytime within five years

. POOR – Indicates the component will need repair or replacement now or in the very near future. MAJOR CONCERNS – A system or component that is considered significantly deficient or is unsafe.

Can you sue a home inspector in Texas?


Yes, you can sue your home inspector

. Whether you have a good case depends on what they did and how it caused you harm. Home inspectors are impartial third parties who often deliver bad news to prospective home sellers and home buyers — which can cause complaints.

Can you sue a home inspector in Florida?

The simple answer to whether or not you can sue a home inspector for negligence is yes.

If they failed to find something that caused you or another resident harm, legal action is an option.

Can you sue a home inspector in Canada?

How much does a home inspector make in Texas?

Who pays for home inspection in California?

Generally,

the home buyer

pays for the cost of a home inspection, which should be undertaken as soon as an offer for a home is accepted by the seller. It can range anywhere from $300 to about $500. The overall cost is determined by the location and size of the property.

What do home inspectors look for in Texas?

Can seller accept another offer after counter offer?


yes the seller can accept another offer

since a counter offer is not binding intill fully executed. Until the seller has a fully executed accepted offer they can entertain and accept another offer even if there is a counter out. Time is of the essence when you are negotiating on a home.

Can a seller back out of an accepted offer?

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Yes. A seller can back out of an accepted offer or before closing, as long as there are no specific clauses that state otherwise

. That being said, whether or not a seller can back out of a contingent offer depends on the contract that was written and what is mentioned in it.

Can a seller rescind a counter offer?

Any change to an offer creates a new offer, called a “counteroffer.” Like an offer,

a counteroffer can be withdrawn by the seller at any time before it is signed by the buyer and the signed acceptance is delivered back to the seller or his agent

.

How do you ask a seller to make repairs?

  1. Fill out a request for repairs form.
  2. Add repair amendments to the purchase report.
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.
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