Negotiating After the Inspection

The last few years saw a hot seller's market and a cool attitude toward home inspections. Thankfully, that mindset is fading like thin exterior paint, and inspections are returning as a standard in the home-buying process.

Negotiating after a home inspection can be complex, so it's wise to have a licensed real estate agent help you navigate the process. In the event issues are exposed, here are some sound tips to keep in mind.

• You can ask the seller to make the repairs identified in the home inspection report before the sale is complete.
• It's acceptable to request a credit at closing to cover repair costs if the seller is unwilling to fix the problems.
• Sometimes, the best solution is to negotiate a combination of repairs and credit where the seller will make some repairs, and the buyer will receive a credit for the remaining repairs.

Regardless of what action you take, a real estate professional's skill and knowledge will prove to be indispensable.