I always tell my buyers that if it is a health or safety issue then ask the seller to give a credit for the work, I tell them do not ask the seller to make an older home new!  in my area sellers will not do any repairs prior to close so we ask for credits towards closing costs. If it is major work then the buyer needs to make the decision to cancel or go forward.

depends on the level and costs of fixes. if they're cosmetic, the buyer will probably want to make the place their own anyway, so it's moot.

if they're safety issues, you may want to open a dialogue with the seller/listing agent to come to some kind of terms so the seller isnt leaving any kind of undisclosed liabilities, since they now know of defects that may be harmfu, and their responsibility.

i know many of us may not like to hear this but, if the deal is close and it's a matter of a few hundred bucks, why spoil over nickel and dimes. the parties, agents included, should be brought together and do what's right.

i would think with the seller living further awya, there's some motivation there to gitrdone.

It would depend on the repairs requested. In California, nowhere does it say that the seller will fix health or safety items...in fact, it says we are taking the house as we saw it.  I always advise my buyers that they are buying a used house - it will not be perfect.  Also, what they saw the day they made the offer is what they should expect when they take possession. The only exception to this are items that we couldn't tell if it was working or not...heat and air, plumbing or electrical issues, for example.  The hole in the wall, the worn hardwood floors, the cracks in the driveway...we saw them when we viewed it and that's how we will receive it. 

Hmm...You only wear one hat as the buyers agent. Sometimes when you are explaining things from the sellers perspective, it seems like you are empathizing with them. However, it all comes down to motivation. Does the buyer want to lose the house for these 3 things? Rather than a win-lose situation, you need a win-win situation here.

Being objective and empathetic, and giving your buyer the big picture is all you can do. Once you present the buyers factual options, they have to make their own decision. Try to remove any emotion from the situation.

Your buyer is not being too picky, it all sounds like a broken record I have heard many times!

BEST WISHES

Buyers will try to get anything they can get away with it. The seller is right to respond the way they did. It is your job to present the facts and they have the last say to continue with the contract or not. I hope it works out for you and your clients.

The repairs on this Transaction in my opinion amount to less than $500, I am sure something will get worked out, In the end the other agent and I will probably pay for the repairs if comes down to losing the deal. Thanks for your comments