How to Negotiate for Problems Found in the Home Inspection
ShareBuying a house is not a simple process. It takes time, consideration, and work, and you should always get a home inspection when purchasing a single-family home. A home inspection protects you and reveals things to you about the home that you would otherwise never know. When you find out what the home inspector discovered during this inspection, you might want to negotiate with the seller. Here are some tips to help you know your options with negotiating.
1. Negotiating After the Inspection Is Not Always Necessary
It is important to know that there are times to negotiate after the inspection and times when you do not need to negotiate. A home inspection will always reveal a list of problems found in the house, even the small issues. Every home has issues, and this even includes brand-new houses. The goal is to know which issues to accept and live with and which ones require more investigation or negotiations. When a home has minor issues that play no role in the home's safety, you might want to just ignore the issues and deal with them yourself. When the issues are bigger, though, you can determine how to respond.
2. Consider the Costs for Fixing the Problems
Next, you might want to consider the costs for fixing the bigger issues. For example, if the inspector determines that the furnace does not have much life left in it, you might want to talk to an HVAC company. You can ask them about the costs of replacing the system. You can talk to contractors about the repair costs for any major issues found during the inspection.
3. Determine Which Strategy to Use
After getting the home inspection, you have the right to negotiate for the repairs the single-family home needs. You can do this in several ways, and one option is by asking the seller to reduce the price. If you discover that the home needs $20,000 in work, you might ask the seller to lower the price by $10,000 or so. Another option is to ask the seller to fix the problems before you close on the house. You can talk to your agent to learn more about these options.
Buying a single-family home can be exciting and fun. If you have questions about homes for sale or inspections, consider reaching out and working with a local real estate agent to learn more.