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Home Inspection Negotiations for Hebron Sellers: Repairs and Credits
What happens after the buyer’s inspection, how to respond to a repair request, and when a credit is better than a repair.
Key takeaways
- The buyer’s inspection period is set in the contract; their requests must arrive within it.
- You can agree, counter or decline each request.
- Focus on safety and real defects, not cosmetic items or normal wear.
- A credit at closing is often simpler and cheaper than making repairs under a deadline.
- Repairs you agree to should be done by qualified contractors, with receipts.
How it works
- InspectionThe buyer’s inspector reviews the home and writes a report.
- RequestWithin the inspection period, the buyer asks for repairs, a credit or a price change, or accepts the home as it is.
- ResponseYou agree, counter or decline, item by item.
- AgreementOnce agreed in writing, repairs are completed or credits are written into the closing.
Repair, credit or decline?
| Response | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Repair | Safety items, items a lender requires, and small fixes you can complete properly before closing |
| Credit | Larger items the buyer would rather handle themselves, or when time is short |
| Price change | A significant issue that changes the value of the home |
| Decline | Cosmetic items, normal wear, or upgrades presented as repairs |
Keeping the deal together
Most inspections find something. A calm, specific response with quotes behind it keeps the buyer committed. Your agent knows which requests are reasonable for the age and price of the home and how buyers in your market usually respond.
Questions sellers ask
Do I have to make repairs after a home inspection?
No. You can agree, counter or decline each request, but declining important items may lead the buyer to cancel within their inspection period.
Is a credit better than a repair?
Often. A credit avoids repair deadlines and disputes over workmanship. Lenders limit how much credit a buyer can receive, so your agent will check.
From The Caldwell Group
Sell your Hebron home with a team that knows this market
The inspection is the second negotiation of the sale, and often where sellers give back the most. Your agent separates real defects from wish lists, gets quotes, and negotiates repairs or credits so you protect the price you agreed.
The Caldwell Group | eXp Realty has closed 350 Hebron homes since 2005, 204 of them for sellers, and has helped more than 2,600 families across Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. We price from real sales, market the home properly and handle every deadline through closing.
Derek and his team are the best. This transaction was a tough one, with many roadblocks to overcome, none of which were his fault. Thanks to his experience and expertise, he was able to guide us to the finish line, and we could not have done it without him.
A five-star review from our Zillow profile. Read more reviews, or every review at every rating on Zillow and Google.