In a multiple-offer situation, repair requests could damage your chances.
During the buying process, we never recommend that buyers waive inspections because that can lead to many potential issues. However, we also don’t recommend that buyers in multiple-offer situations ask for too many repairs, and today I’ll explain why.
When you ask the seller to make repairs, they could simply say no and put their house back on the market or find another buyer willing to accept the property as is. In the face of already heated competition, you don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize your chances of successfully buying the home.
“If you’re the only buyer who requests the repair, you’ll destroy your competitive edge.”
As a buyer in a multiple-offer situation, I recommend that you avoid requesting repairs when possible. If you can spot a problem during a walk-through, it’s almost certain that the other buyers saw it too—if you’re the only one who requests the repair, you’ll destroy your competitive edge. However, if a serious issue arises during the inspection, like problems with the foundation, you can and should request a repair from the seller.
If you have any questions about repair requests during the buying process or anything else to do with real estate, give me a call or send an email. I’d love to help you.
