Home Inspection Issues and Seller Agreements, Part 2

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the issues that may be raised by a home inspector as part of a property sale, plus when it is or isn’t prudent for a buyer to bring such issues back to the seller as part of the sale agreement. While buyers obviously cannot ignore major repair needs or damage that’s been found by a home inspector, there’s a general etiquette line on the kinds of issues buyers should and shouldn’t raise.

At Daybreak Living, we’re happy to detail any of these customs or basics as you look to buy a home in Daybreak. The last thing we want is for any of our clients to have a sale derailed based on handling home inspection results improperly, and we won’t let this happen to you. In today’s part two, here are a few additional kinds of inspection issues that may be raised, plus our general recommendation for whether or not to bring them up with the seller.

Landscaping Areas

Generally speaking, the only kinds of landscaping issues that a seller would be asked to remedy at their own cost would be major foundational problems. We’re talking about issues like a malfunctioning sprinkler system, an entire yard of dead grass, or similarly large-scale concerns that impact home value.

When you get into more detailed areas, from uneven bricks on a walkway to loose fence boards and others of this ilk, however, it’s generally considered inappropriate to bring this sort of laundry list back to the seller. These issues were visible when you first toured the home, and asking for repairs will only annoy sellers.

Code Updates

Many cities or municipalities require home inspectors to list any items in the home that do not meet code requirements, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the home itself needs a code improvement. In most cases, code upgrade items are folded into the purchase.

External Buildings

If the property you’re considering has a shed, detached garage or some other kind of separate external structure, the etiquette here is pretty similar to landscaping issues: Only bring problems to the seller if the concerns are major and structural in nature. Detached sheds are not supposed to be pristine or perfect, and you should not demand as much from a seller.

Minor Repairs

Finally, when it comes to smaller minor repair areas, particularly those that cost under $100 for a given area, we highly recommend against raising these with a seller during a home sale. It simply is not the seller’s responsibility to handle each and every one of these minor areas, especially in larger homes, and you should instead focus your efforts on big-picture issues.

For more on the kinds of home inspection issues to raise or not raise with a seller, or to learn about any of our homes for sale, speak to the staff at Daybreak Living today.