No matter what house you choose to purchase, there is a chance that the home will have some issues that need to be addressed and repaired. The good news is that you can negotiate for the repairs the house needs with the seller of the house. To do this, you will need to make sure you fully evaluate the house before writing the offer and add the right contingencies to the offer you write up.
Tips for evaluating a house before making the offer
While all homes may have some issues that need to be addressed, some homes will have more than others, especially if you view older homes. The point is not to find out if a home has issues but rather to find out what issues it has before you put in the offer to buy it. To thoroughly do this, you should take your time as you inspect the house, and you should even consider bringing a friend or contractor with you to have an extra set of eyes. As you do this, you should write down any issues you find, as you can negotiate with the seller on these issues if you decide to buy the house.
The types of contingencies to add
Adding contingencies is a great way to ensure that you can get the repairs completed that are needed. One type of contingency to add is a line that lists all the known repairs that the house needs. If the seller agrees to this, it means that he or she must make these specific repairs for you to close on the house.
Secondly, you should add a home inspection contingency, as this allows you to get a home inspection done. If you find issues through this inspection, you can then negotiate with the seller further, simply because you have this contingency on the contract. This contingency not only allows you to get a home inspection, but it also allows you to void the deal if issues are discovered. If the seller does not want to lose the deal, he or she is likely to agree to fix the things found by the inspector.
If you want to make sure you purchase a house that does not have issues that you will have to pay for, make sure you follow these tips. To find out more about negotiating on repairs, talk to a real estate agent.
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