Feb

21

Home Sellers Questions

February 21, 2008 |

Question and Answer: I sold a house recently and I am somewhat puzzled over the buyer’s inspection report and request for repairs.

  1. I was never provided a home inspection report A list of repairs came from the buyer. I replaced and fixed what I could
  2. At the buyers final walk thru, the buyers agent gave my agent an additional list for items needing repair. 2 of which were not on original request for repairs.

My wife and I went ahead and fixed the additional items that were listed on the second request. My house was on the market for a long time we just wanted to get it closed so we did the additional repairs. Is this a common practice for the buyer to add on more repairs after the fact?

Wow, sorry about the hassle you went through, it sounds like it was very frustrating for you to get this house sale closed. I’ll try to answer your questions;

  • The home inspection report is something the buyer pays for, on the California Purchase Agreement there is fine print about buyer providing to seller complete copies of any and all reports buyer has performed. The final walk thru is NOT the time to discover and request additional items for repair. The verification of property condition is to insure the property is as it was when buyer first entered agreement to purchase. This walk-thru is to ensure that repairs were done from the original list from buyer.

It sounds like in order for you to close escrow you went ahead and did the repairs, as the buyer was holding up the close of escrow. That sounds like the best option for you but probably a frustrating one. Communication between the selling agent and the listing agent are key in this type of situation, many times it will be written into the contract about exactly what the seller will do in order to get the sale closed and if buyer is satisfied they sign and every body is going to escrow knowing what the other side will or wont do. You were up against a bad situation here in that buyer has a right to cancel, even at the last minute if the property is not in good repair and all items in working order as agreed upon.

This is not legal advice, I am not a lawyer. If you need legal council, contact a qualified professional


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