Asking Columbia SC Home Sellers About Repairs

When looking for a Columbia SC home, it’s important to see beyond paint colors and decor that may not be your taste and, instead, focus on the floor plan, structural design and other physical elements of the house. Replacing carpets or changing light fixtures are typically simple and affordable changes you can make once you move in. But if certain areas of the residence require repairs, like the foundation or the roof, purchasing a property could become costly.

Don’t let the fear of having to pay for repairs deter you from buying a Columbia SC home, though. In some cases, Columbia SC home sellers may be willing to pay for repairs if it will help them close the deal and sell their property. Here’s how to ask:

Reasonable Requests for Columbia SC Home Buyers to Make

There are certain types of fixes that are generally OK to ask Columbia SC home sellers to take care of before you, as a buyer, agree to purchase the home. Getting a home inspection is a must. Once this is complete and specific parts of the home have been identified by an inspector as needing essential upgrades (electrical wiring, for instance), you can approach the sellers to see if they would be willing to pay for the repairs.

Conversely, it is not acceptable for home buyers to make non-essential requests for fixes in a home for sale. This might include asking the seller to paint the house simply because you prefer a different color, or making other aesthetic alterations.

Timely Requests

In addition to making appropriate repair requests, it is also important for home buyers to petition fixes in a timely fashion. Making requests days before closing may halt a home sale altogether, as the sellers may not be willing to alter their agreement at the last second. This means you will want to ask the sellers to upgrade certain parts of their home early on in the negotiating process.

In certain circumstances, Columbia SC home sellers may be willing to pay for home repairs after the sale is complete. To ensure the sellers follow through on their intent to do so, you might want to hire a lawyer to draw up a contract stating the seller’s intention to make the fixes within a predetermined period.

Decide What You Can Live With

There is a chance your Columbia SC home sellers may be unwilling to pay for repairs. You should determine how willing you would be to accept the home as-is, without repairs paid for by the sellers. If the majority of the home is in quality shape (make sure the defects won’t impact your ability to get insurance on the property) and you like most features, you just might want to worry about making fixes after the sale goes through.

The key to approaching Columbia SC home sellers about repairs? Communication. For more home buyer tips, check out our other Columbia SC Homebuyer Tips under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right.