Hi Dean, welcome to the new buyers....and the seemly lack of sellers to pass when they have to bring money to the table to close.  It seems that some of these offers are being taken by sellers.  It also is reflective of the foreclosure market and short sale homes.  People think every home should be linked to each other and the category of NOT A Short Sale or Foreclosure means nothing.  If the buyer loves the home say no...but warn your sellers the buyer may be gone.  I have had several sellers say no...and the buyer left...I have also had buyers say yes...they loved the home and were testing the sellers to see if they would blink and take the low-ball offer or the adjusted offer after inspections.  Nice post Dean.

This makes me crazy too, but is a fact of our business right now.  I was just the buyers agent, but my buyer has been reasonable.  Also, I just ratified a contract on one of my listings and with all of the credits, the buyer has accepted the property in as is condition - the majority of the house has been updated- and we are providing a home warranty at settlement.

In my experience, through two sellers markets, I think the buyer is better to the seller than the seller is to the buyer when the shoe is on the other foot, but that's just me?

Dean,

It is truly a big balancing act today......Seller's are eager to get sold.....yet they may have an issue like this and if not properly prepared......UGH!

Unless it is in writing and says the property is being sold "AS IS" then the buyers have every right to come back and ask for repairs, especially expensive ones.  If the sellers don't want to sell they don't have to.  As far as I know there isn't a single seller with an agent holding a lethal weapon to their head in order to make them sign an offer.  I suspect just as there is buyers remorse there is sellers remorse and in our current market it could end up costing them more than an additional 5K.

Some buyers - and some agents - see the inspection contingency as a second chance to negotiate.  Don't worry about what you get up front, because you'll just try to get more for "repairs."

It's frustrating - for sellers, for listing agents, and, I suspect, for many buyers who are led to believe they can simply ask for anything they want to be fixed. 

Even when the contract says "As-is" and issues are disclosed, I've seen buyers come back and ask for the disclosed issues to now be repaired.

It's part of the game, and we're paid to deal with it.  Sometimes it will work out, and sometimes we'll need to move forward to find another buyer.

Hello all:

Let me relate to you a story that happened to me. My sellers listed their home "as is". Many buyers balked after getting a home inspection. All buyers inspections seemed to point to and ask for removal of exposed knob and tube wiring in basement. Sellers had sold "as is" but I ask -- should "as is" be ok if a fire is possible? In my opinion, all municipalities should require a C.O. (certificate of occupancy for you non-real estate types) for all residential real estate transfers. Long story short. deal eventually went through, partial credit was issued, buyers moved in but before repairs could be made, an electrical fire killed 2 adults and 2 children. Not a night passes when I dont stop and think about that deal and that poor family. I wish I could go back in time and try to prevent this. "As-is" is ok with me so long as all life safety issues are addressed PRIOR to occupancy. Since that awful night, I insist that my sellers obtain an electrical certification for the buyers protection. I lose some deals, but I make sure that the sale price reflects that the electrical system is up to snuff. I guess if  the people had died because the walls collapsed due to termite damage, I would be pushing termite certs. It was an awful experience that forever changed me. As-is is a dangerous proposition given human nature.