How do I negotiate repairs after inspection?
Want the seller to fix costly problems? Read this short, direct playbook that gets results.
Home Inspections & Appraisals: Quick, Actionable Strategy
A home inspection report is not a shopping list. It’s leverage. Use it right and you keep your deposit, your financing on track, and you avoid surprise bills. Tony Sousa, a local realtor with years of Toronto market experience, handles these negotiations daily. Here’s the exact, simple process he uses.
1) Read the report and prioritize
Scan the inspection for three buckets: safety (mold, electrical, structural), major systems (roof, HVAC, plumbing), and cosmetic items. Focus only on safety and major systems for your first request. Sellers expect small fixes; they won’t entertain a long list.
2) Get independent estimates
Don’t guess cost. Get 1–2 contractor quotes or a licensed tradesperson estimate. Use those figures in your request. Numbers win. Abstract statements like “repair as needed” lose.
3) Choose your remedy: repair, credit, or price reduction
- Ask for seller-completed repairs with certified receipts and permits where applicable.
- Or request a repair credit at closing. This is cleaner and faster.
- If the issue is big, ask for a price reduction so you control the work after closing.
Pick one approach. Don’t demand all three.
4) Use a clear repair addendum
Submit a short, itemized repair addendum with: the defect, the requested remedy, the quotes, and a deadline for response. Keep tone professional. Deadlines matter—use the inspection contingency period.
5) Be strategic with appraisal issues
An appraisal compares market value, not every defect. If the appraisal comes in low because of condition, you can renegotiate price or ask the seller to fix items that impact value. If the appraisal supports value and the defect is safety-related, lenders will insist on fixes anyway.
6) Leverage your options
If the seller refuses reasonable requests: 1) negotiate a credit, 2) reduce your offer, or 3) walk away within the contingency window. Showing you will walk builds negotiating power. A credible agent makes your threat real.
7) Close professionally and verify work
If the seller agrees to repairs, require receipts, permits, and photos. Consider a follow-up inspection or a contractor verification before closing.
Why this works
This process is direct, numbers-driven, and uses standard real estate tools: estimates, repair addenda, and contingencies. It removes emotion and forces clear choices. That’s how deals close fast and clean.
For local guidance and exact addendum language, contact Tony Sousa. He’ll review your inspection, get quotes, and negotiate with the seller so you don’t overpay or miss critical repairs.
Email: tony@sousasells.ca
Phone: 416-477-2620
Website: https://www.sousasells.ca
Get the report. Get estimates. Pick the remedy. Close with confidence.
