When you sell a house, the
buyers will probably have a home inspection before they are contractually
obligated to purchase the home. The inspector may turn up something that needs
attention or repair, and after the inspection, the buyers may produce a list of
items they want repaired as a condition for moving forward on the sale.
When you get the buyers' list, remember that some
of the items may be negotiable. Sales contracts usually require that all the
systems be in working condition. Some buyers may make requests that go beyond
the normal obligations of the seller. They may ask for a new roof or certain
structural repairs that you may not want to make. Your agent can help you to
assess the risks of just saying "no" to buyers who are making demands
you consider to be unreasonable. You may just decline the requests, but the
buyers may back out of the deal as a result. When you agree to make repairs,
hire licensed professionals who will back up their work and give copies of the
receipts to the buyers. Arrange to have the repairs made as far ahead of time to
avoid last-minute complications which could compromise the transaction.
