By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
When the home inspector issues his written report of property defects, what's the next step - back to negotiating price, demanding repairs by the seller, or what? - Joel
Dear Joel,
When the home inspection report is in hand and you have fully discussed the findings with your inspector, it's time to digest and evaluate this vital package of new information. At that point, you'll have a week or less to weigh and determine which of the disclosed conditions are minor defects in need of normal maintenance, which are significant functional problems that warrant professional attention, and which are safety issues in that demand priority repair. Advisement received from the inspector will largely affect this classification process.
Next, you'll need to decide which conditions your are willing to accept as they are and which you would prefer the seller to repair prior to completing the sale. In lieu of repairs, you might opt to request a price adjustment on the property. However, repairs and price changes are usually negotiable. Unless specified in the purchase contract or by state or local laws, sellers are generally not required to perform any repairs. Exceptions would include such items as the installation of smoke alarms, but some municipalities require much more.
To assist you in sorting through these options and representing your choices in the negotiation process, it is best to have the professional representation of a Realtor or an attorney.
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