the second phase of house buying negotiation

[Anonymous]

PSA from someone who just bought and sold a house:

Be sure your agent isn't just someone who is good at negotiating the contract price. There's a second round of negotiation that's arguably more intense than finding a price: The home inspection.

A lot of people don't think about that, especially first-time homebuyers or even people who bought in the early aughts when it was customary to waive the inspection.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what the gripe here is - once you have decided to buy a home, and agreed on a price, you have an inspection to make sure the home is what it appears to be. If there are major issues, you have two choices - walk or try to quantify the costs associated with fixing the house and negotiate those from the price.

If you're suggesting that the inspection be used to re-trade for minor items (random outlet needs replaced, screw pops in drywall), that's not the point of the inspection, and an agent should not be encouraging a renegotiation over minor items. If you want to re-trade, that's of course your choice, but I wouldn't expect a seller to seriously negotiate.

If you're proceeding with a sale where there are major items, presumably you would gather estimates to repair, and would likely share those with the seller, in which case there still isn't much negotiation, only a question of whether the 2 parties accept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what the gripe here is - once you have decided to buy a home, and agreed on a price, you have an inspection to make sure the home is what it appears to be. If there are major issues, you have two choices - walk or try to quantify the costs associated with fixing the house and negotiate those from the price.

If you're suggesting that the inspection be used to re-trade for minor items (random outlet needs replaced, screw pops in drywall), that's not the point of the inspection, and an agent should not be encouraging a renegotiation over minor items. If you want to re-trade, that's of course your choice, but I wouldn't expect a seller to seriously negotiate.

If you're proceeding with a sale where there are major items, presumably you would gather estimates to repair, and would likely share those with the seller, in which case there still isn't much negotiation, only a question of whether the 2 parties accept.

I wasn't griping. I should have been more clear: WHen you choose an agent, find one who can negotiate both the purchase price and the home inspection items well.

[Anonymous]

13:01 here, sorry, I wasn't trying to rush to judgment on your thoughts. I agree with you - finding the best person who can help across disciplines is a good idea.