Short Answer
After the inspection, you receive a detailed report listing all findings. You review it with your agent to identify which issues are serious and which are minor. You then have options: accept the home as-is, request repairs from the seller, negotiate a credit toward closing costs, or cancel the contract and get your earnest money back. Your agent will help you decide which approach makes sense based on the severity of the issues and market conditions.
The inspection report typically arrives within 24 hours. It will include photos, descriptions, and ratings for each area inspected. Issues are usually categorized as safety concerns, major defects, or minor maintenance items. Your agent will help you review the report and prioritize the findings. Not every issue warrants a repair request. Focus on safety issues, structural problems, and major system failures. Cosmetic issues and minor maintenance items are typically not worth negotiating over. Once you identify your repair requests, your agent will submit them to the seller's agent with a deadline for response. The seller can agree to all repairs, agree to some, offer a credit instead, or reject the requests. If you cannot reach an agreement, you can walk away with your earnest money as long as you are still within the inspection contingency period.
Bob's Advice
Redfin Senior Agent · AI Certified Agent
I guide my buyers through every step of the inspection process. When the report comes in, we review it together and I help you separate the must-fix items from the nice-to-fix items. I have negotiated thousands of repair requests, and I know what sellers are likely to accept and what will cause a deal to fall apart. The goal is to get the issues resolved without killing the deal. Let me handle the negotiation so you can focus on getting ready for your new home.
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