Repairing Guides

how to respond to a buyer's request for repair

by Dr. Brendon Franecki Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Buyers can request repairs using C.A.R. Form RR, Request for Repair. Sellers may respond on C.A.R. Form RR or may respond separately on C.A.R. Form RRRR, Seller Response and Buyer Reply to Request for Repair. Together, these forms may be used to facilitate the negotiation of repairs and removal of contingencies.

Part of a video titled 3 Response Options For Buyer Repair Requests - YouTube
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So to accept those repairs could be one of the easiest things to do. Option number two is that youMoreSo to accept those repairs could be one of the easiest things to do. Option number two is that you can reject the repair requests. You're under no obligation to repair anything of your home.

Full Answer

How long does a buyer have to respond to a repair request?

When he/she submits a request for repairs, the buyer sometimes asks for particular contractors to do specific work. The seller typically has three business days from the time of receipt to respond to buyers. In that period, the buyer cannot change his/her request.

What is a request for repairs form?

A request for repairs form is typically used by a home buyer as an official request for repairs after home inspections have been completed. They can also be used to request a monetary credit from the home seller. The seller can then either accept, reject or ask for a revision to the request for repairs form as part of the contract.

How do you ask a seller to make repairs?

You send the sellers repair requests via the request for repairs form or contract amendment You must make an explicit demand to the sellers that they make the requested repairs or you will cancel the contract. The seller either rejects it or agrees to make some or all of the repairs requested.

Can a seller request a revision to a request for repairs?

The seller can then either accept, reject or ask for a revision to the request for repairs form as part of the contract. Typically the seller must complete the work specified in the form by a certain date and provide proof that the work has been completed by a professional, licensed contractor.

What factors are considered to be a buyer's repair request?

What happens if you decline a home inspection?

What does it mean to accept a conditional offer?

Can you offer multiple offers on a house?

Can you lose money on a buyer's repair request?

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What happens if seller doesn't respond to repair request?

You may well be able to retain your earnest money deposit if you cancel the sale. If your requests for repairs are refused by the seller, you are likely entitled to a refund of your earnest money on deposit.

How do you respond to Rrrr?

Form CR, attached to Forms RR or RRRR to remove any additional contingencies. If the seller is responding on C.A.R. Form RRRR, the buyer may: 1) accept the seller's response, 2) counter terms in 2, or 3) make a new Request for Repair. If the buyer counters the terms in 2, then the seller needs to complete C.A.R.

How do you negotiate a repair request?

Ask For A Price Reduction Even though you are paying less for the house, you will be out of pocket for the repair. A good way to structure that is to ask the seller to pay some or all of your closing costs that would normally be paid for by you. That is a way to put money in your pocket for the repairs.

What are reasonable things to ask seller to fix?

Reasonable requests after a home inspectionMajor electrical issues that are safety or code issues.Plumbing, drainage, sewer, septic, or water issues (or well water issues, if applicable)Mold or water damage.HVAC problems that affect home comfort.Leaking roofs or missing shingles.Termite and pest damage.More items...

What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?

What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?Mold or water damage.Pest or wildlife infestation.Fire or electrical hazards.Toxic or chemical hazards.Major structural hazards or building code violations.Trip hazards.

What does Rrrr mean in real estate?

The BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Method is a real estate investment strategy that involves flipping distressed property, renting it out and then cash-out refinancing it in order to fund further rental property investment.

What is a request for repair?

A request for repairs form is a document that lists the home buyer's repair needs before they buy the home. The buyer's agent sends this document to the seller's agent for consideration.

What is repair in real estate?

Repairs means the repairs to be made to the Mortgaged Property, as described on the Repair Schedule of Work (Exhibit C) or as otherwise required by Lender in accordance with this Loan Agreement.

Can you negotiate price after offer accepted?

More often than not, the transaction will come to an end if both parties do not come to a satisfactory agreement. As you can see, it's definitely possible to get a buyer to lower their price after your offer has been accepted. But they aren't going to lower the price unless you have a legitimate and valid reason.

How do you write a repair addendum?

Our biggest tips to writing repair amendments are simple: be specific, don't overuse words and don't under explain what you need, and let the inspection report do the talking. Be specific.

How long are you liable after selling a house?

Normally a buyer would have six years in which to bring a claim against you, although in certain situations it could be three years from when the buyer becomes aware of a problem.

Who is responsible for repairs before exchange of contracts?

It is the seller's responsibility to inform the buyer of any damage. It is however the buyer's responsibility to insure the property from the date of exchange of contracts and to have the repairs carried out. The buyer will then have to make a claim on their insurance policy.

Can you negotiate offer after inspection?

A seller is under no obligation to fix anything that comes up during a home inspection, however, they are often willing to make certain fixes so they don't lose the potential buyer. Negotiating after home inspection is important for buyers and sellers in order to come to an agreement that both parties are happy with.

How do I write a letter to the seller after a home inspection?

You want to write clearly and in simple, plain language to get to the heart of what it is you want done. Let the inspection report do the talking. Quote items in the inspection report and give reference numbers for pages or sections of the report where the item appears. Let the inspector's words inform what needs done.

What factors are considered to be a buyer's repair request?

There are a few different ways to handle a buyer's repair request depending on a number of factors including market action, closing price, and extent of the damage among other things.

What happens if you decline a home inspection?

Declining a request to repair something structurally deficient when you sell your home will usually end with your house going back on the market. You are obligated to let future buyers know about what was found in previous home inspections, even if their inspection does not find the same issues.

What does it mean to accept a conditional offer?

Accepting a conditional offer on your home means that much of the work of selling your house is done, but the deal could still fall through. One of the main issues seller's run into during the closing process is the home inspection, which can bring hidden problems to the surface and force you to deal with them. There are a few different ways to handle a buyer's repair request depending on a number of factors including market action, closing price, and extent of the damage among other things.

Can you offer multiple offers on a house?

If you have multiple offers on your home, especially within the first few days of it being listed , you may be able to pass on any conditional offers . Though almost every offer will have conditions attached, you may be able to tell a potential buyer that you are not willing to pay for repairs.

Can you lose money on a buyer's repair request?

No matter which action you take for a buyer's repair request, you will probably lose money. Buyers usually do not want to move into a home that requires repairs immediately unless they are compensated at closing.

Why is it so difficult for a buyer to make a repair request?

It becomes very difficult from a moral perspective for the buyer to make repair requests because the buyer knew the condition of the property prior to writing the offer. That means the cost of any repairs were presumably reflected in the offer price.

How does a buyer submit a repair item to the seller?

Buyer submits to Seller a list of repair items via a request for repair form or amendment to the purchase contract.

What does "as is" mean in a real estate offer?

In most states, the offer to purchase real estate says the purchase is “as is.” Nonetheless, offers also typically allow for buyers to inspect the property, review reports and seller's disclosures and cancel the agreement if the buyers are not completely satisfied with what they find.

Why do you need to have an inspection done in advance?

Having inspections done in advance also allows the seller to repair anything that needs fixing before they go into escrow. For example, if an inspector notes a leaky roof, a wise seller would know that all buyers are going to want the roof fixed and can have that work done. By contrast, if an inspector notes that a water heater is nearing the end of its useful life, the seller can simply inform potential buyers to factor this eventual water heater replacement into their offer.

Why is it wise to disclose issues to the next buyer?

This decision is typically wise because it can be costly for sellers to begin marketing again and find a new buyer. Plus, now that the seller is aware of issues, they may have to disclose those issues to the next buyer per applicable disclosure laws.

Can a seller cancel a fix it contract?

The seller agrees to the fix-it list, counters it or rejects it.If the buyer doesn't like the answer from the seller, they can cancel the contract and receive an earnest money refund.

Pick your battles

While it’s tempting to start nickel-and-diming the sellers so that your new home can be as pristine as possible when you move in, that’s just not realistic, warns Realtor® Kyle Springer, with Coldwell Banker in Bowling Green, KY. Instead, he advises, “concentrate your time and attention on major, structural issues, rather than cosmetic ones.”

Common home repairs to request (but you may not get)

Here are some common items on buyers’ home repair lists, although sellers may or may not be willing to fix them:

Back up your requests with research

It’s easy to eyeball a potential problem and say, “It looks like there’s been water damage” or “That roof is looking a little worn.” It’s quite another to have evidence on how extensive the damage is and an estimate of how much it will cost to fix. The more specifics and backup you can provide, the better.

Ask for a repair credit

Rather than having the seller coordinate and pay for the work, ask for a “repair credit” instead.

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What do you do if the seller refuses to make the requested repairs?

If they refuse to make mandatory safety repairs, you can walk away from the purchase contract . If the repairs are more cosmetic, you may need to make them yourself.

What is the job of a buyer in a repair?

Your job as a buyer is to figure out which issues warrant a repair request with the sellers, and which you’ll ask for cash for, handle yourself, or let slide altogether.

Why do sellers have one foot out the door?

Because sellers have one foot out the door, they may not be as focused on quality as you would be. They also may have different aesthetic tastes and standards from yours. If it’s important to you to have something repaired or updated a certain way, you may want to wait and handle it yourself.

What is the job of a buyer?

Your job as a buyer is to figure out which issues warrant a repair request with the sellers, and which you’ll ask for cash for , handle yourself, or let slide altogether . But if serious issues are found on your home inspection, you should request repairs from the sellers.

When do you get a home inspection?

In most cases, home inspections are done shortly after a homebuyer's offer is accepted.

Is cash credit for repairs a good idea?

Seller credit for repairs often benefits both sellers and buyers. It helps sellers move forward with selling their home without having to spend time making repairs on a property they are leaving. And it helps buyers make the repairs they want and need, in the way they want.

What is a request for repairs form?

A request for repairs form is typically used by a home buyer as an official request for repairs after home inspections have been completed. They can also be used to request a monetary credit from the home seller. The seller can then either accept, reject or ask for a revision to the request for repairs form as part of the contract.

What Is Included in the Home Inspection Repair Request Form?

As a buyer, when you wish to make demands on the sellers for certain repairs or corrections to be made, you will complete a home inspection repair request form. This useful resource is used to itemize the demands in a written and legal format.

How to be specific about an issue?

Be as specific as possible about what the issue is , how you want it addressed and what state it should be in by the time the work is done.

Can you share a home inspection report with a buyer?

The best thing about our reports is that unlike an inspection report they are not considered a disclosure notice, so there are no legal ramifications of anyone sharing the report with any other party.

Can a repair request addendum be used by a realtor?

Be aware that some states do offer approved promulgated forms to be used as repair request addendums, but they are typically only available through the local board of Realtors. If you’re not working with a licensed agent, then best of luck to you, and if you are, ask your Realtor to see if they have one available. Typically however when writing a repair request addendum we advise:

Is a Repair Pricer Report the Same as a Request for Repairs Form?

Not exactly – while many of our clients do use our reports as a request for repairs form, they are typically used to help the buyer narrow down the most important and significant home inspection costs, or to calculate exactly how much repair credit the seller should be provided in lieu of repairs. The best thing about our reports is that unlike an inspection report they are not considered a disclosure notice, so there are no legal ramifications of anyone sharing the report with any other party.

What happens if you request a repair?

If you request a repair, the seller has the right to ignore, deny, or agree to the request, or attempt to negotiate a compromise.

What is the right to request repairs on a property?

As a real estate investor, you’re looking for a property that will provide a good return on your investment, but you still want the purchase to constitute a good deal. Sometimes, this involves buying a property that isn’t move-in ready at the time of purchase. Nevertheless, when there are problems with a newly-purchased property that will be costly to fix and which are the responsibility of the sellers to repair, buyers have a right to request that repairs be made by sellers before the close of sale. The timing of these requests, and the buyer’s rights when requests are ignored or denied, are important to understand.

What happens if you refuse to make repairs on a house?

If your requests for repairs are refused by the seller, you are likely entitled to a refund of your earnest money on deposit. Even if you cancel the sale after an unsuccessful negotiation of the repairs you requested, rather than an outright refusal to make repairs, a real estate lawyer can assist you in getting back the deposit funds you’ve provided to the buyer so far.

Who is the attorney for disputed sale in California?

If you are in need of skilled and knowledgeable legal counsel for a real estate transaction or disputed sale in Southern California, contact the San Diego real estate litigation attorney Jon Alan Enochs for a consultation, at 619-421-3956.

Who is in charge of inspections?

The buyer is in charge of any inspections conducted on the property and has a right to speak with the inspector and ask any questions they may have during the inspection. If a seller has made it difficult to schedule an inspection of the home or is personally interfering in the inspection, the buyer may have a right to an extension of time to conduct these inspections.

What factors are considered to be a buyer's repair request?

There are a few different ways to handle a buyer's repair request depending on a number of factors including market action, closing price, and extent of the damage among other things.

What happens if you decline a home inspection?

Declining a request to repair something structurally deficient when you sell your home will usually end with your house going back on the market. You are obligated to let future buyers know about what was found in previous home inspections, even if their inspection does not find the same issues.

What does it mean to accept a conditional offer?

Accepting a conditional offer on your home means that much of the work of selling your house is done, but the deal could still fall through. One of the main issues seller's run into during the closing process is the home inspection, which can bring hidden problems to the surface and force you to deal with them. There are a few different ways to handle a buyer's repair request depending on a number of factors including market action, closing price, and extent of the damage among other things.

Can you offer multiple offers on a house?

If you have multiple offers on your home, especially within the first few days of it being listed , you may be able to pass on any conditional offers . Though almost every offer will have conditions attached, you may be able to tell a potential buyer that you are not willing to pay for repairs.

Can you lose money on a buyer's repair request?

No matter which action you take for a buyer's repair request, you will probably lose money. Buyers usually do not want to move into a home that requires repairs immediately unless they are compensated at closing.

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