what to ask for after inspection?

[Anonymous]

After your home inspection, what did you ask the sellers to fix? Everything big and small? Big only knowing you would be able to fix loose fixtures etc. later? Did you ask for credit or actual repairs?

Just looking for various stories.

We really like the house we have under contract but aren't very handy so would like it in the best shape possible before buying. Also, I still think we might be a bit above market value even after negotiations (this isn't a biding war situation since the neighborhood we are buying in is relatively cool compared to the rest of DC)

[Anonymous]

We asked for a chimney inspection which revealed a cracked inner lining of the chimney as well as several out of code portions of the fireplace. The seller wouldn't have been able to sell to anyone with the chimney in the state it was due to the fire hazard and the new buyer obtaining insurance, so he agreed to foot the cost and repair.

Most of the rest of the things were very minor, so that was the only thing we asked for after inspection.

[Anonymous]

The seller is responsible for delivering all systems in good working order.

That said, how easy was it for you to get the house? If there was a bidding war, homes don't stay on the market long in that area, or for any other reason the seller should be able to easily find another buyer at that price, then be careful what you put on the list. If they had a hard time selling the house and they should be happy they have a deal with you, then you can put more on the list and see what they agree to.

You can post the list of things the inspection found and we'll help you determine what to ask for - given the housing market in that neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

The seller is responsible for delivering all systems in good working order.

This is no longer necessarily true if OP is in the DC area. The standard sales contract underwent major changes early last year, and now pretty much everything is negotiable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You can post the list of things the inspection found and we'll help you determine what to ask for - given the housing market in that neighborhood.

Brightwood.

The house is a flip. The biggest issue is that during installation it seems as if dampers weren't installed as part of the HVAC system so the basement gets a ton of cold air and the top floor very little. This I don't think can be fixed without a major system overall. So, I think we will ask for the seller to uncover a register that was accidentally covered (hard wood flooring) on that floor. I'm not sure if we should ask for anything else in this regard.

We will ask for some roof flashing to be installed that really should have been there already.

The hot water tank is way too small for the number of beds and baths. I don't know if we should ask for it to be changed or just see if they'll give us a credit to do it later. I'd be okay either way but since it's not to code think it's something to be addressed.

Finally, since the seller likely has the contractor on hand I think we want to the little stuff righted (loose shower head fixed etc.) But this stuff isn't a deal breaker either. I just figured it would be really easy for them to do given they are the ones who renovated. I'm less sure about a couple cosmetic cracks in plaster and if we should ask to have those done too.

There is a safety railing missing that I might just let go. We can figure out what we want there to keep kids safe when they are old enough for it to matter.

[Anonymous]

We're in this same situation, also in a cooler market than most of the area. Most of the major systems are in good working order, although the HWH & A/C unit outside will probably need replacing in a few years. The roof is also in decent shape but probably about 15 years old and the inspector said lifespan is probably about 20 years. I'm not planning on asking for anything on these except a home warranty plan, but my realtor seems to think we'd be overasking. Then there were more minor things... sealants on the roof, replacing a sump part, redirecting the gas vent. I feel like that's not too much to ask but my realtor seems to think she already had a hard fight on the price that she seems reluctant to post a list of repairs. Really kind of tired of this realtor. Or should i say REALTOR(R)

[Anonymous]

For a flip house that had a new remodel, I'd ask for everything to be fixed. You are paying a premium for a flip so it should be completed.

[Anonymous]

OP, your items don't seem unreasonable. They can always say no, but if they just want to get the deal done, they'll probably say yes to most of it, if not all. (and yes, if something is definitely not to code, you should ask.)

When I bought my house, we catalogued a bunch of stuff and only asked for a couple of things to be fixed because frankly, we were getting a deal on the house and they hadn't countered our offer. They gave us about $1,500 for some electrical, plumbing and HVAC fixes, which we made over the next year or so depending on urgency.

[Anonymous]

Brightwood is not a cooler market. Prices are up 20% and homes sell pretty quickly. That said OP, ask for anything and everything that needs to be fixed to be fixed. I agree that if the house is a total reno you should expect it to be perfect. I know I would....especially for the price! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in this same situation, also in a cooler market than most of the area. Most of the major systems are in good working order, although the HWH & A/C unit outside will probably need replacing in a few years. The roof is also in decent shape but probably about 15 years old and the inspector said lifespan is probably about 20 years. I'm not planning on asking for anything on these except a home warranty plan, but my realtor seems to think we'd be overasking. Then there were more minor things... sealants on the roof, replacing a sump part, redirecting the gas vent. I feel like that's not too much to ask but my realtor seems to think she already had a hard fight on the price that she seems reluctant to post a list of repairs. Really kind of tired of this realtor. Or should i say REALTOR(R)

This is the OP. We haven't talked to our real estate agent yet but I'll update you. It sounds very odd for your own agent not to support minor repairs and a home warranty (they are $500-600 right?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in this same situation, also in a cooler market than most of the area. Most of the major systems are in good working order, although the HWH & A/C unit outside will probably need replacing in a few years. The roof is also in decent shape but probably about 15 years old and the inspector said lifespan is probably about 20 years. I'm not planning on asking for anything on these except a home warranty plan, but my realtor seems to think we'd be overasking. Then there were more minor things... sealants on the roof, replacing a sump part, redirecting the gas vent. I feel like that's not too much to ask but my realtor seems to think she already had a hard fight on the price that she seems reluctant to post a list of repairs. Really kind of tired of this realtor. Or should i say REALTOR(R)

This is the OP. We haven't talked to our real estate agent yet but I'll update you. It sounds very odd for your own agent not to support minor repairs and a home warranty (they are $500-600 right?)

Honestly i think she just wants to get us to stop nitpicking. She's clearly not detail oriented, we've learned.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if I am being paranoid, but I keep hearing the voice of someone I know who recently sold and said with completely serious bitterness "I'm going to partially cut the strings in the blinds because these buyers are being such cheap assholes and wanting to fight over every little thing."

[Anonymous]

We asked for credit to fix three windows that were foggy and to fix flooring in family room that was rotting by the door to the backyard. Got 4k credited.

DH did not want the sellers to fix anything, he is very nitpicky so he would much rather do it himself or hire someone he trusts.

[Anonymous]

We are not handy at all, and our first house we asked for some things to be fixed, and they fixed them cheaply, so on our second house (which we won in a bidding war) we looked to see if there was anything we couldn't live with and there wasn't. However, I would rather have a credit than have people who are about to move out try and fix something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We asked for credit to fix three windows that were foggy and to fix flooring in family room that was rotting by the door to the backyard. Got 4k credited.

DH did not want the sellers to fix anything, he is very nitpicky so he would much rather do it himself or hire someone he trusts.

Interesting. Our agent was very open to having us ask for each of the major things the inspector found (and some we might have let go ourselves if he hadn't pointed out reasons to ask during negotiation). But he did say it was better to have fixed than to get a credit since "lenders don't like credits". I didn't ask why or what that was about because for all but one issue, I'd rather they do it.