We have not had the inspection done yet, that is Saturday. But we think that it needs new windows, and insulation. It definitely needs new siding. All the other things we can do ourselves...pulling up carpet, painting, new wallpaper. What are things we can ask them to fix, or take down the asking price?
2006-07-13 05:11:30 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Typically, you do an inspection before you put down a down payment and sign any contract and after the seller has accepted your "offer". In your question you indicate "Just bought a house" which implies you have already signed a contract, put down-payment, or worse, closed on the house.. If you have gotten to the contract part, then you are bound to only ask the owner for those things in the contract.
Otherwise, if you haven't signed the contract or put down a down-payment, you have a lot of options. Firstly, most contracts for single-family houses state the house is in an "as-is" condition. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation, but generally means that the house is structurally sound and isn't in imminent danger of falling apart.
The inspection report should state what things are the most severe condition or need of replacement. There may be things about the house that would cause you to not want it after the inspection. However, if you still want to move forward, don't ask the seller to fix/replace anything. They'll do it the fastest/cheapest way possible.
Instead, take the inspection report, and draw up a contract with an adjusted selling price to off-set the money you'll need to address some of the more "severe" things in the inspection. You can't expect the seller to foot the bill for all new windows where 1 or 2 may really need replacing. Bring your concerns about the windows, siding, and insulation to the inspector beforehand.
If you are further along in the sale (where a contract has been signed), you may want to consult your lawyer (if you have one) to discuss a sellers concession on the items you feel are deal-breakers well before your closing date.
2006-07-13 13:05:12 · answer #1 · answered by g0at_cheez™ 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can ask them to repair/replace whatever you feel is appropriate for their asking price.
If you have not signed a contract yet, then you have not yet bought the house... but if you have signed, you may already be out of luck as far as negotiations go.
You can place in the contract whatever you want to and then the seller can either accept/deny/or make their own offers and return the contract to you.
If you have not had an appraisal done on the house, you need to do that. Find out if the asking price is where it should be. You mentioned siding and windows needing replaced and those are both very expensive and mostly cosmetic. Most sellers are not going to want to replace either before selling a house. They would rather wait for a buyer to come along to buy the house as it sits rather than pay out $20,000 or more to fix it up without raising the selling price.
If the siding is that bad, you can ask for a lower price. But that too, depends on if the appraisal is where it should be. If the house is above the appraisal or right at it, there is room for big drop. If it is already well below, chances are the seller isn't going to come down.
Good Luck!
2006-07-13 05:22:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, I would get it inspected. After the inspection, if you haven't signed the paperwork yet, talk to the seller about fixiing the problems or dropping the price according to how much it will cost to fix. You can actually get everything fixed yourself. Sellers don't have to fix any small problems, only the big ones. By big ones I mean any structural prob;ems. Just remember, if the seller does put on new siding, new windows, and insulation, he/she could possibly raise the price of the house. Most of the time when you buy a house, you are buying it as is.
2006-07-13 05:20:52 · answer #3 · answered by lpsl_84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot ask them to fix anything for you - if you want it fixed that's your problem!!! But, you can ask to have the price lowered because of what the inspector says, not because you think it needs new windows & insulation. Our house was built in 1929, definitely needs new windows and insulation, and because of that the price was lower (although not low enough to pay for all that work!). You can't expect to move into a perfect house unless you build.
2006-07-15 16:51:38 · answer #4 · answered by springdewfairy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have already signed the contract it is too late to make
those demands. If you haven't ask for repairs or a big reduction in the sale price. It sounds as if the house needs a lot of work. Believe me I know that repairs are expensive. If you can do a lot
of the work yourself you are fortunate, because it is hard to get
anyone to do the work at a reasonable price, it is hard to keep them on the job until it's done and to do a good job. Best of luck.
2006-07-13 05:27:05 · answer #5 · answered by Bethany 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a fixerupper.
Anything is negotiable.
Wait for inspection. If windows are really that bad, the report will back you up.
If the whole house needs windows you are talking major bucks same thing with the siding and should renegotiate price. You are talking 20g's or more!
Get a lawyer
2006-07-13 05:18:29 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can ASK for anything. Whether you'll get it depends on whether it is worth it to the seller. If you're paying enough for the place to make it worth it to him to fix it, he might agree; if not, he'll tell you no thanks, and wait for someone else to buy the house as is.
My gut is, if someone wanted to buy my house and asked for the windows, siding, and insulation (!) to be replaced, I'd tell them they don't really want my house, they want some other house. Windows and siding are big jobs. Insulation is a HORRENDOUS job. On an average house, to do all that, I'd guess you're looking at $30k - $50k. I doubt the seller will agree. You should probably find another house.
2006-07-13 05:19:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By law the seller has to give full disclosure concerning anything wrong with the house. Anything like carpet, paint, etc. would be considered remodeling and not the sellers responsibility. However any structural or physical repairs that need to be done should be repaired by seller.
2006-07-13 05:17:53 · answer #8 · answered by J P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely mold. Mold can be a huge problem, and a nasty one. Most of the time, houses are sold "as is." Perhaps there are small things the seller to do, to make you more apt in purchasing the home. Make sure the house had good plumbing and all that jazz. My biggest concern when buying a house though is mold. All houses have it, some more than others. Good luck!
2006-07-13 05:16:23 · answer #9 · answered by zagato_queen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will be selling my house in the future, and I can tell you from a seller's point of view, I will only do what is required by code. If that isn't enough for the buyer, then they'd best beware, I will increase the sale price by double whatever is outside the code that they insist I take care of.
2006-07-15 10:26:06 · answer #10 · answered by shire_maid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋