Negotiating Repairs After a Home Inspection: Tips for Buyers
Home inspections can play a significant role in negotiations. It can alert you to any problems on the property that you may not have noticed. In some cases, home inspectors in Suwanee, GA can find significant issues with a property that can give you leverage to negotiate for a better price with the seller. In this article, we will explore whether home inspections can be used for negotiations and provide five tips for negotiating after a home inspection. If you want to learn more, call Atlanta Property Inspections today.
Can Home Inspections Be Used For Negotiations?
A typical inspection lasts anywhere between two and three hours. It looks at the condition of the grounds, structure, roof, exterior, windows, doors, kitchen, electrical and plumbing systems, bathrooms, and many more. If the inspection uncovers any problems that weren't noticed, it can be an advantage to the homeowner. Some laws legally require the seller to fix the issues before they can sell the property, while others don’t. However, in all cases, it will still need the seller to take action to reduce the price of the property or fix the problem. Let’s learn some tips to negotiate after a home inspection in the following section.
Tips to Negotiate After A Home Inspection
Now that we know how home inspections can be used for negotiations, let’s discover what you can do afterwards.
- Work With A Professional Real Estate Agent: Your real estate agent is a middleman who knows the owner and can help you understand which repairs you can negotiate with the homeowner and which ones you should skip. An experienced agent will also have ideas on what you can immediately do if the seller is not willing to negotiate at all. For instance, they may suggest different solutions for this problem, like a price reduction, a seller credit, or even an extended home warranty.
- Focus on Major Repairs: If you start a negotiation directly from the home inspection report, you may not be able to address the significance of the problems that are considered significant compared to the many issues deemed minor. For this reason, when negotiating, only try focusing on the major repairs. Ask the current homeowner to fix the problems, such as any structural defects, safety concerns, or even systems that may be too costly to fix or replace
- Try to Opt for A Price Reduction: Most homeowners would never want to pay for the repairs or replacements themselves. To avoid this, a potential buyer may want to ask the seller for a discount on the home’s purchase price, which will provide a gap needed for the buyer to control the repair process.
- Provide Supporting Documents: When negotiating with the seller, ensure you bring the necessary supporting documents, including the professional home inspection report and quotes from contractors. This can validate the repair and allow the homeowner to be more flexible.
- Ask For A Home Warranty: A home warranty is a policy that pays to repair or replace appliances during a specific coverage period. If the seller isn’t looking to reduce the price or fix the appliances themselves, they can apply for a policy on your behalf.
Atlanta Property Inspections
Are you looking for a professional home inspection company to help you prepare a home inspection report you can use for negotiations? At Atlanta Property Inspections, we have over 25 years of industry experience. Call us today to learn more about us and our services.