Your Inspection Report Is Back: How to Negotiate Repairs With the Seller

Every inspection report has findings. Even a well-kept house will come back with a list. The goal isn't to demand a perfect home, it's to understand what you're buying and decide what's worth asking for. Here's a practical way to work through it.

Sort the findings into three buckets

• Safety and major systems: electrical hazards, gas or CO issues, active leaks, structural concerns, a failing roof or sewer line

• Needs repair soon: aging equipment, drainage problems, minor leaks, worn components

• Maintenance and cosmetic: caulk, loose hardware, minor wear, things you can handle yourself

Most negotiations focus on the first bucket and a few items from the second. Asking for everything on a long list can slow things down and weaken your request.

Get quotes for the big items

A request backed by a contractor's written estimate is much stronger than a guess. If the report recommends evaluation by a licensed professional, such as a roofer, plumber, electrician or sewer contractor, do it inside your inspection period so you have real numbers.

Three ways to ask

• Seller repairs the item before closing, ideally with receipts and licensed work

• A credit at closing, so you control who does the work and how

• A price reduction, which can make sense for larger items

Your agent will know what's customary in your market and how your contract's timelines work, so lean on them for the strategy. We're happy to walk you through anything in the report, and we can help you understand what's urgent and what isn't. To get a report you can negotiate from, schedule an inspection.