Tim and Julie, HELP ME! Home Inspector Is KILLING My Deal!

Welcome back to America's #1 Daily Podcast, featuring America's #1 Real Estate Coaches and Top EXP Realty Sponsors in the World, Tim and Julie Harris. Ready to become an EXP Realty Agent and join Tim and Julie Harris? https://whylibertas.com/harris or text Tim directly 512-758-0206

Today, we'll discuss how to handle the deal-killing home inspection.  How to avoid this problem ethically, what to expect, and how to still get the deal done.

Our listeners fall into two camps on this issue:

1.  Experienced agents who have a Swiss army knife of solutions they can deploy to keep buyer and seller happy and make it to closing.  They don't panic, they just solve problems.

2.  Agents who may be experienced in working with buyers and sellers but who have little experience negotiating home inspections because they haven't had to in the hot seller's market of the past decade, where sellers could just say 'Nope! Take it or leave it, I have 3 other offers!', or worse: no inspection at all for you if you want to buy it.

IMPORTANT: Join #1 Real Estate Coaches Tim and Julie Harris's Premier Coaching now for FREE. Included is a DAILY Coaching Session with a HARRIS Certified Coach. Proven and tested lead generation, systems, and scripts designed for this market. Instant FREE Access Now: YES, Enroll Me NOW In Premier Coaching https://members.timandjulieharris.com/

Today's podcast will help that second category the most but also help fine-tune the skills of our more experienced listeners who may not have dealt with this for a while.

Fact:  Buyers are getting more control of the transaction and home inspections are happening again.  So are home inspection negotiations!  In the worst-case scenario, this becomes a secondary point of negotiation.  Everything could be on the table, including the purchase price, concessions from either or both sides and even the deal itself.  This is a critical skill to improve upon so you'll virtually never lose a deal due to failing inspection items.

What to do when you get that big grocery list of what the buyer wants to be fixed? 

1. Listing agents: Consider having Seller's Coverage from a trusted home warranty company at the time you take the listing.  Many items will be covered including HVAC, plumbing, and electric, and the cost isn't paid until closing.  This will help with minor but common issues.

2.  Buyers agents:  Council your buyer about what is appropriate versus inappropriate to request.  Safety and security items and health risks are typically appropriate. Cosmetic items are not.

Note: With all home inspections, the results will be one of these 4 outcomes.  

-Buyer gets nothing. Take it or leave it.  They walk or they don't.

-Seller says yes to everything, they figured they'd have to deal with inspection items.

-Seller gives the buyer money to do the repairs themselves, based on estimates.

-Combination of the above. Repairs plus some money.

3.  Buyer or seller's agent:  Present the list and simply ask them what they think.  It's not your job to have an opinion, to be an expert, or to play home inspector.  Oftentimes what YOU are freaking out about might not be of concern to the buyer.

4.  Buyer or seller's agent:  Know what's a deal killer and what is just a request.  Again, focusing on safety items is the rule of thumb here.  If the HVAC just doesn't work, that's a reasonable request.  If the buyer wants new window coverings, that's pretty unrealistic, cosmetic, and not the point of a home inspection.  

Caution Listing Agents:::  Be sure you're doing what your SELLER or BUYER wishes to do, versus inserting your opinion!  Many times when you submit the list and just keep your mouth shut, the seller will say 'Yes, I knew about all of this.  How about I fix a, b, and c and offer them $1500?).  Don't create objections where there aren't any.  Consider the Seller's Home Warranty.

Caution Buyers Agents:::  Don't overreact on behalf of your buyers.  Don't use home inspectors who like drama.  Good bedside manner is beneficial.  Prepare your buyers that this is a negotiation, not a bloodbath.  

Bottom line? Don't give up! If the buyer still wants the house and the seller still has to sell it, your job is to find the solution to get them both to the closing table!

IMPORTANT: Join #1 Real Estate Coaches Tim and Julie Harris's Premier Coaching now for FREE. Included is a DAILY Coaching Session with a HARRIS Certified Coach. Proven and tested lead generation, systems, and scripts designed for this market. Instant FREE Access Now: YES, Enroll Me NOW In Premier Coaching https://members.timandjulieharris.com/

TIME CODES

00:00 - Intro
02:41 - Premier Coaching
06:31 - Home warranty
10:35 - Wealth building
16:16 - New construction
22:33 - Reasonable time
27:41 - Freaks the buyer
35:19 - Home consignment
43:32 - Harris Rules book
50:30 - Like and subscribe