Edgewood, WA Real Estate Blog

Almost every purchase and sale agreement today includes a home inspection contingency.  They are often improperly used.

Why not negotiate the repair items you’re aware of as part of the initial purchase and sale agreement? Often times I’ve seen buyer’s agents wait until the inspection report comes back before negotiating repairs they know are needed.

That’s poor negotiating strategy in my opinion. Now the buyer (your client) is out the cost of the inspection and has emotionally ‘purchased’ the property.

One of the tenants I strive for is “no surprises”. Obviously that’s not 100% possible, but I want to know the seller’s position on replacing those broken window seals, putting on a new roof, and/or pumping the septic tank up-front — before we pay for a home inspection.

Leave the inspection contingency negotiation for those unforeseen problems and your buyer will be farther ahead.