Please consult your agent about the negotiability of items in the report.
Buyer repairs are preferred over seller repairs because buyers are more invested in the long-term condition of the home. There are ‘good’, ‘better’ and ‘best’ repairs and repair costs can vary greatly. Typically sellers only want to pay for ‘good’ repairs while buyers want the ‘best’ repairs. Sometimes negotiations can fall apart squabbling over technicalities which is why we recommend that buyers negotiate for a general allowance or ‘credit’ rather than specific repair amounts. Sometimes it is best to stay vague about the defects or the repairs and just ask for an amount based on the ‘various’ defects observed in the report. Buyers should keep in mind that if all the defects in the home were repaired the seller would likely be asking for a higher amount. At the end of the day, real estate negotiations come down to a single number- buyers, sellers, or agents don’t want to get bogged down in too many details.
