![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/seller-not-willing-to-negotiate-after-inspection-post-it.jpg\")
<\/a>OK, let\u2019s review your options<\/h2>\n
When a seller isn\u2019t willing to negotiate after the inspection, you face a dilemma. The home inspection traditionally reopens the door for some back and forth<\/a>, saving buyers on average $14,000 on their home purchase<\/a>, according to a study from Porch.com of nearly 1,000 homeowners. That\u2019s a lot of money to leave on the table as a buyer.<\/p>\n But at this point you\u2019re already in deep with this house. You\u2019ve pictured living there. You imagined how you\u2019d make it yours. It\u2019s not just about money. Your heart is also on the line.<\/p>\n Although it feels like there are many factors at play, you\u2019re basically left with three choices:<\/p>\n To help you pick a path, let\u2019s review the considerations that could sway your decision toward the right option so you don\u2019t end up with regrets no matter the outcome, i.e., buying a house you can\u2019t afford to make livable, or throwing away your dream home over a measly couple hundred bucks.<\/p>\n A home may well be the most expensive purchase you make in a lifetime. It\u2019s only natural to look over this investment with a critical eye. But there is such a thing as taking the findings of an inspection too far or offending the seller with unreasonable requests.<\/p>\n Put simply, reasonable requests include \u201cthings that are <\/b>unsafe, that are broken, and that would hurt the property value<\/b><\/a> if they stayed that way,\u201d<\/b> says top performing Kansas City area agent<\/a> Edie Waters<\/a>. That will typically include items such as<\/a>:<\/p>\n These problems pose not only a risk to the value of the home but a risk to the safety of your family. Certain issues could also make it harder to secure a mortgage<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the other hand, nit-picky requests can be categorized as \u201cnice to have\u201d changes to the home. Some repairs fall in a gray area (such as a roof that doesn\u2019t show signs of damage but due to its age, would be hard to insure<\/a>). When in doubt, check with your agent \u2014 they\u2019ll know what\u2019s considered up for negotiation and what\u2019s really too small potatoes to bring up.<\/p>\n These are some of the types of requests that usually won\u2019t fly<\/a>:<\/p>\n If the repairs you asked for weren\u2019t necessary in the first place, then you should feel comfortable moving onto closing without negotiating further. These repairs don\u2019t jeopardize your safety in the home, and you can take care of them yourself or hire a handyman<\/a> to complete the project after closing.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re worried about a major request that would impact your ability to live in the home or its value down the line, then keep reading.<\/p>\n Some forms of negotiation are more effective than others. If the sellers froze you out after your inspection requests, take a minute to revisit how you went about making your case. Were your demands backed by the facts? Were you using cost estimations or exact numbers?<\/p>\n A certain amount of tact, reason, persuasion, precision, and expertise can go a long way. According to the same Porch.com study which surveyed homeowners on their home inspection experiences, the most common ways people came up with revised offers were:<\/p>\n These methods outranked strategies like making a \u201cbest guess\u201d for repairs or consulting family and friends on the new offer.<\/p>\n The state of the market could be a deciding factor on whether you move on to the closing table or walk away from the house.<\/p>\n In a seller\u2019s market<\/a>, where buyer demand is high, but there aren\u2019t many homes for sale, sellers hold all the cards. It could be that the sellers of a home know that they could line up another buyer easily (maybe your offer was one of many in a bidding war<\/a>) and you\u2019ll have to accept that you don\u2019t have any leverage.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t weigh the decision carefully. Water encourages buyers to get an estimate for the work the property requires, regardless of whether the sellers agreed to negotiate:<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s say the total for repairs comes to $500,\u201d Waters explains. \u201cBefore you walk away, ask yourself \u2018Is it worth it to walk away from something you love for $500?\u2019\u201d On the flip side, an estimate for tens of thousands of dollars in repairs may be the reality check you need to move on.<\/p>\n Now, if you\u2019re negotiating in a buyer\u2019s market<\/a>, the tables are turned. If you threaten to walk away, the seller might recognize that they\u2019d rather work with you than start from square one to attract another buyer when the market is slow.<\/p>\n But such a \u201ccall your bluff\u201d move could always backfire: the seller may choose to let you walk away. Work with your agent to understand your options, and decide on a strategy that\u2019ll give you the best outcome.<\/p>\n With an understanding of the market, you\u2019ve got an idea of how much leverage you have based on market conditions. But you also need to think about how motivated you are as a buyer to find a house, as well as how much time, money, and know-how you have to make repairs:<\/p>\n What\u2019s your level of urgency?<\/b> When you\u2019re in no rush, you\u2019ve got more wiggle room to go out and find a better deal if necessary. Just know, it could be several months before you pick another place\u00a0 \u2014 the average buyer spends 10 weeks and looks at a median of 10 homes<\/a> before making an offer.<\/p>\n How \u2018handy\u2019 are you?<\/b> Make a list of what you\u2019d need to fix, and determine what you could achieve on your own. DIY projects typically cost less than enlisting a professional but make sure you know what you\u2019re doing \u2014 43% of homeowners<\/a> confess they\u2019ve screwed up an at-home repair at least once.<\/p>\n\n
Know the etiquette: Reasonable requests vs. nitpicking<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Check your negotiation approach: Did you make a convincing ask?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Get a read on the current state of the market<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Factor in your personal motivations<\/h2>\n
\nHave you already sold your current home<\/a>, or is your lease set to expire in a matter of days? Are you relocating for a job<\/a> under a tight timeline? If this deal falling through will leave you without a place to live, then you need to factor that into your decision (or start calling up friends who\u2019ll let you couch surf).<\/p>\n
\nIf you\u2019ve tightened a few leaky faucets in your day and know how to patch up drywall, then taking on a few DIY projects after closing will be no big deal.<\/p>\n