Why?

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@csouza1

You guys must not be familiar with the sellers disclaimer
“It was like that when I bought it” covers everything

Sellers Disclosures generally don’t mean squat. Who cares if it was (allegedly) like that when they bought it or not? It’s an issue today. Their mistake for not (allegedly) having discovered it when they purchased, is my response to the flood in the basement last year in the home they’ve owned for 20 years (and claim to know nothing about)! I bet their insurance agent knows all about it!!!

[gskeeters (George Skeeters, HI-3186)]

Its simple, clean up the home, stage the home, try to hide the leaks with Kilz and cover up wall and floor issues with boxes and storage.
All of the repetitive issue we fine likely never get included in the repair request.
I would have my home as ready as possible but frankly i keep it that way. Thats my issue…
Most realtor will focus on the process of staging and presentation and tell the sellers not to worry with the small stuff.
Have spoken with several brokers and TP realtors about education and pre sales/listing inspections but they just cant grasp the bigger picture of value there.

[mauger (Mike Auger, CMI - RI 43685, RMC-142, RMB-096)]

@mmeeker

I think it is completely ridiculous to agree to a price BEFORE an inspection. Just goes to show whose best interest is the most important. The used house salespeople… What other item or service would you do that with? I am surprised more folks do not tell them to pound sand.

I agree, but that’s the game in my area, I’m just playing it. I guess the idea is that a seller doesn’t want to take the home off the market or let an inspector go through unless there’s a serious offer. So after an offer is approved and agreed upon, I go in and inspect.

Frankly, I think I’d rather se it the other way, inspect then negotiate one time.

[cjacobi (Chris Jacobi, CMI HI01200061)]

@mauger

I agree, but that’s the game in my area, I’m just playing it. I guess the idea is that a seller doesn’t want to take the home off the market or let an inspector go through unless there’s a serious offer. So after an offer is approved and agreed upon, I go in and inspect.

Frankly, I think I’d rather se it the other way, inspect then negotiate one time.

Let’s think about this. If there is a contract to purchase then it forces both sides to negotiate the defects. Think earnest money. Conversely, if there is no offer and the inspection comes back with a truck load of safety issues, then the buyer does not make an offer and the house does not sell. Now maybe there are other issues at hand here, but this is one view.

[bboerner (Billy Boerner)]

It’s simple in my mind. Some american’s are the put it off to the last minute type and maintaining a home takes effort and money so they just like to put it out of sight out of mind until one day they try to sell and it bites them in the *** ;). I’ve also seen it where people just want out without having to do nothing at all and is willing to take a few bucks off the asking price to just move on.

[mauger (Mike Auger, CMI - RI 43685, RMC-142, RMB-096)]

@cjacobi

Let’s think about this. If there is a contract to purchase then it forces both sides to negotiate the defects. Think earnest money. Conversely, if there is no offer and the inspection comes back with a truck load of safety issues, then the buyer does not make an offer and the house does not sell. Now maybe there are other issues at hand here, but this is one view.

That’s true, I get that the initial agreement (pre home inspection) gets everyone to the table. Just seems, in many cases there’s an agreement, then the waters get murky as there’s almost always a re/negotiation.

If there was no initial agreement, the house may never sell.

[fcarrio (Frank M. Carrio, CMI)]

@imayer

It could be any number of reasons:

1. As mentioned, they are losing the house, or are selling before they lose the house, and can’t afford repairs.

2. They are relocating for work, and don’t have time to make repairs, because they have to move quickly.

3. Their work is relocating them, and they are getting some/all closing costs covered, so if they have to take some money off the final sale price after the inspection, it’s not a big deal.

4. The seller bought the house so long ago, they are selling it at a huge profit, so knocking a few bucks off at escrow to cover repairs isn’t a concern.

5. Estate sale. The seller didn’t live in the house themselves, and don’t see the point in repairing anything.

6. The seller has been there so long, they don’t even notice the problems anymore.

7. The seller finds dealing with contractors and repair men such a pain in the rear they just assume to let the next guy deals with it, and if they have to knock some money off at escrow after the home inspection, so be it.

8. They hope the buyer will just buy it anyway without asking for concessions.

9. They intended to repair everything, and just didn’t get around to it with all that goes into moving.

10. They have a special needs kid, or grandma’s in the hospital, or some aspect of life was just more important than getting around to that to-do list they have.

11. There are multiple-offers on the house. If the buyer backs out, there are already other people lined up to buy it, so why bother spending time or money fixing anything? It’s going to sell anyway.

12. House is being sold as part of a divorce. The selling couple can’t agree who will pay for repairs, so they just don’t do them.

I have experienced a few of the above in my own life when buying/selling.

Outstanding reply! This says it all and more.

[dtearle (David Tearle)]

1: Foreclosures

2: People dont care

edit- Or that huge list that Imayer posted which really sums it up.