When you find a home that you want to buy, it’s important to pick your battles when it comes to home repairs.
While it certainly would be nice for the seller to fix every single home inspection issue before you put your money down, there are only so many repairs sellers are willing to commit to.
There may be a hundred little things that you might want fixed on the home, but you only have a set time to settle the deal. Cosmetic issues, for example touching up the paint on the deck, are at the top of the list to avoid asking the seller to fix. Remember, you are not buying a new home. But HVAC problems are repairs you can reasonably expect a seller to take care of. Heating and cooling systems have many moving parts that develop wear and tear, as well as dust and dirt buildup. When something goes wrong, it can go seriously and expensively wrong. Certified inspectors should check for carbon monoxide around the unit and inside the house. For gas-powered systems, special equipment is needed to check for gas leakages. The seller of the home may have documentation that the HVAC system has a high efficiency rating, but if components such as the flue pipe and draft diverter need repair, the system will not be running efficiently. And the condition of the ductwork, its cleanliness and air tightness, are crucial to the overall health of the system. So choose your battles wisely when negotiating the price of the house you want. Avoid the minor issues that are easy and less costly to fix. But hold firm on the major issues that could cost you thousands of dollars to repair or replace.