

5,568,151
I make it clear a home inspection is for major items, not a document to renegotiate price. Want new, let's look at new with its own set of problems!
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Brenda Mayette
Glenville, NY
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
2,875,306
Keep eye on the grand prize & discipline good thy eyes...richfuscious
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,153,799
If the home is a good fit and the major mechanical and structural items are sound I cannot encourage this method as a negotiating tool unless they're willing to lose the possibility of ownership.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
2,719,433
No.
I educate Buyers in advance that if they try to nickel and dime the Seller over items found on the Inspection Report, they will probably lose the house, and along with it, the appraisal fee, the inspection fees, and other monies that they have paid out.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Azle, TX
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
2,133,052
Using the phrase "nickle and dime" certainly will skew your responses.
I encourage my buyers to make inspection requests only of those items on the list that they cannot live without. As in "If they aren't willing to repair, or credit, for that item... then I may not be willing to go foward with the purchase".
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Debbie Gartner
White Plains, NY
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
2,270
I don't. I recommend my buyer clients to focus only on issues that are:
1. Structural
2. Safety
3. Mechanical
Please note that we are currently in a tight seller's market with very low inventory.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Azle, TX
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
937,298
Nickle and dime is just bs. If a serious issue is found, then seller needs to get it fixed.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
824,029
We go through the home inspection together and I have been fortunate to have buyers that are reasonable and don't pick the items that they could repair/replace or modify themselves. They also all understand the ramifications of how the seller can respond to a Request for Repairs. And I have had sellers that are also reasonable and understand that there are items that they need to addressed.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
5,293,470
I had a agent ask for 46 items one time, a couple of the items were to tigthen a screw.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,525,616
Absolutely not, it can alienate the seller.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
3,224,922
I encourage my buyers to be reasonable with repair requests.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
216,960
No. I always inform them that their offer is based on the defects they have seen and inspection defects, unless major and unforeseen are not discount items.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
5,398,585
Oh no, never.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
2,311,680
No way. I tell them to limit their inspection objection to safety and mechanicals. No house is perfect - not even a brand new home.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
613,494
What is your definition of nickle and dime? I do not like to dicker on petty things but then I have had listing agents who think that everything is petty.
I remember one time none of the windows opened and the LA said "why do the windows need to be open? Everyone uses A/C..."
Home inspections are never considered to be a TRICK. If you are truly representing a buyer, than it is your job to renegotiate if there are more defficiencies than expected, but everything depends. I would certiainly not fire a client over it.
Eve
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Debbie Gartner
White Plains, NY
1,759,837
It does happen, and if it is a defect easily remedied and one that it is apparent no one was aware of, then negotiable. If it is a defect that is clearly a case that the seller was aware of; then HELL yes!
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
921,504
Nickle and dime.
I remind them of the queue of folks looking at the house afterward.
I remind them the 'seeking backup' rider was taken down.
I alert them the seller may have a better offer waiting for an opportunity.
Then I say, "If you really want me to submit the list, I certainly will."
I also expect the agent on the other side to understand what is taking place and they support the seller in saying 'go pound sand' or toss the buyer a bone.
Now, be aware, there are legitimate issues (separate from inspectors seeking relevance) that can not be ignored.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
5,186,059
No. Just the major items.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
6,777,162
I think that it is slimey and unethical to use the inspection as an opportunity to renegotiate the price of a home.
The offer is generally made based on an older home and then to try to force the sellers to produce a new home is unreasonable.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
321,664
No, there are a few issues that should concern a buyer.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
3,764,591
I think that if they nickel and dime, they may get less done overall. I try to get my clients to focus on the issues that are important to them.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,772,017
No that is not the purpose of an inspection.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
3,988,144
No I encourage them to be reasonable and to not get ridiculous if they really want the house.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
3,986,529
No, unless it is a new home then they can be much more picky
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,683,918
They should concentrate on the major issues. The minor things they can do on their own, especially if they did not have a full price offer.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
2,448,781
2,443,346
Absolutely not, all houses have issues. I am mostly concerned with foundation, safety and health issues.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,209,321
Absolutely! I love wasting time and pissing seller's agents off!
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
5,585,039
I've never heard of any agent in my area doing that....
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
291,019
Fortunately I have not been in that situation yet Cathy Hertler, and I would not be a fan of encouraging that type of behavior/reaction either. Usually items have been minor, and sometimes they will do them all, and other times not, as they 'pick and choose'. Can't see a deal going south for hundreds of dollars, which I know is not the same as thousands of dollars. I have seen a buyer accept $1K for repairs, as the owner didn't want to make any of them, and the buyer could have a relative do the fixing up. Outside of hard feelings, and why even go there?, I sure cannot see 'nickle and diming' done after a Home Inspection. Save your 'battles' for what counts the most for you, and hopefully there won't be any!
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
2,366,401
Like you said Cathy, they need to understand what the purpose of a home inspection is. I always explained it was to assure there were no health or safety issues.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,395,083
We discourage it, although many buyers, as you indicate, seem to think that the home inspection is for the purpose of lowering the price. In a hot market, sellers can, and often do, walk away when the buyers start this.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,875,928
No I don't but there are plenty of other agents that do. They consider it 'showing value' for the buyer.
Agree about the inspection getting the price down. There was a gang of agents & home inspectors that were in on something I found out a few months ago.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
2,810,604
Hi Cathy - In our market, it's more or less customary to constrain inspection objection items to the big stuff. We occasionally see some buyers who attempt to use inspection as an opportunity to renegotiate price, but they typically get a poor reception.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,547,234
No. I advise them to ask for things that make sense that one would expect to be working (like an oven or dishwasher) but not to ask for the minor stuff like not having a cover on an outlet. That type of stuff will piss off a seller and I've seen people lose houses over it.
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
4,434,277
1,269,886
In our area, sellers provide an inspection rpt and stated it is an as-is sale. We have buyer wanting another inspection I make them to sign an AS IS sale and asked them to release appraisal.
Low ball is verbally offered as buyer agents do not want to waste time in a seller market(5th year in a row) with these opportunists.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,466,257
Cathy Hertler Quite a few of the items found in a home inspection are covered with the walk-through and are mandatory items to be repaired or replaced. The buyer's shouldn't get worked up over items that wil have to be fixed anyways. Major item repairs should be discussed.
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
797,557
Good for you, buyers who do this are a nightmare.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,618,024
5,206,288
Worrying about the small stuff is likely not have the desired effect. I woud worry about any health, safety or mechanical/structural issues. The cracked receptacle cover is a no brainer
930,815
Only for legitimate claims; have seen ridiculous requests based on so-called inspection items.
1,015,038
I don't mind a re-nogitate if its from something high priced, but low cost issues depends on what the buyers are getting - during the short sale fiasco this was quite popular to try
3,417,759
No, I really do not like this stance and some offices practice and teach it as it happens every time.
879,657
NEVER! I educate and re-educate my clients re: what inspections are for and what they are NOT for. This is something that is making me nuts lately & I wish more agents would "put their foot down" re: this behavior.
4,322,295
1,097,855
I would say it depends on the market, however people should always do what's best for their client ----- if you can save your client hundreds, thousands, or the headache of having to move into a new home and immediately start fixing things, then why not?
If it's a hot seller's market and asking to have lightbulbs replaces is going to jeopardize the buyer getting the home, probably a good idea to not ask for it.
I ask this, though, to offset the negative conotation of "nickle and dime" --- IF you have 2 options and they are a) get your client into the home, after which they'll have to spend a month or 2 making minor repairs and won't be able to live comfortable or with total peace of mind until they're done" or b) you have a seller prepare the home to be move-in and live-in shape and your buyer can move in and begin living and enjoying their new home care free and with no immediate maintenance needs
Would anyone not choose b?