The inspection report is in your hands. Now what? Knowing what to negotiate — and what to skip — is one of the most practical skills a buyer can develop. Using it poorly loses deals. Using it well protects your investment without alienating sellers.
Negotiate the Big Stuff
Focus on items that are expensive, structural, or safety-related. A roof at the end of its life, an electrical panel that insurers won’t touch, a heating system with a cracked heat exchanger, active basement water intrusion — these are legitimate negotiating points. They cost real money and affect livability.
Don’t Nickel-and-Dime
Sending a list of 40 items asking for credits on every caulk line and sticking door will irritate the seller, signal inexperience, and potentially kill a deal that should have closed. Pick your two or three most significant issues. Go deep on those.
Credit vs. Repair
On Long Island, a credit at closing is usually cleaner than asking for repairs. Seller repairs create disputes over quality and completion. A credit lets you hire your own contractor after closing and control the outcome. Ask for credits equal to a fair market repair cost — not a worst-case estimate from an alarmist inspector or a contractor who inflated the bid.
Know When to Walk
If the inspection reveals foundation issues, extensive mold, environmental contamination, or a combination of major problems that significantly exceed the value of the property, it may be right to exit the deal. That’s what the contingency is for. Walk away clean rather than close into a money pit.
Start with a thorough inspection from The Inspection Boys. Book at homeinspectionsli.com.
