Who Pays for Repairs After a Home Inspection?

After a home inspection, buyers often request repairs — but sellers are frequently unsure what they’re actually required to fix. The short answer: repairs are negotiable.

💡 Quick Answer

Sellers are not legally required to pay for repairs after a home inspection, unless the purchase contract or lender requirements say otherwise.

Most inspection repairs are handled through negotiation — repairs, credits, or price adjustments.

This guide focuses on repair responsibility, not who pays for the home inspection.

Why Inspection Repairs Are Negotiable

A home inspection is primarily for the buyer’s information and is governed by the inspection contingency. While buyers can request repairs, sellers retain control over how — or whether — those requests are addressed.

  • Buyers may request repairs or credits
  • Sellers can accept, counter, or decline
  • No automatic obligation exists under standard contracts
  • Negotiations depend on market conditions

Seller Options After a Home Inspection

Sellers typically choose one of the following responses:

  • Complete repairs before closing
  • Offer a credit at closing
  • Reduce the purchase price
  • Decline repairs and sell as-is

Buyer requests are typically submitted through an inspection repair request clause.

Many sellers compare credits vs. repairs after a home inspection to minimize delays and out-of-pocket costs.

Which Inspection Repairs Matter Most?

Buyers commonly focus on repairs related to safety, habitability, and major systems identified during a home inspection.

  • Roof damage or active leaks
  • Electrical or plumbing safety issues
  • HVAC not functioning
  • Structural or foundation concerns
  • Water intrusion or mold risks

Cosmetic issues are less likely to justify repair demands unless markets strongly favor buyers.

Who Pays for Repairs in an As-Is Sale?

In an as-is sale, sellers typically do not agree to repairs — but buyers may still conduct inspections to assess risk.

  • Sellers are signaling no repairs will be made
  • Buyers inspect for risk awareness
  • Price negotiations may still occur

“As-is” does not eliminate disclosure obligations or lender repair requirements.

Lender-Required Repairs vs Buyer Requests

Some repairs are not optional if financing is involved.

  • FHA and VA loans may require safety repairs
  • Appraisers may condition value on repairs
  • These repairs affect loan approval, not negotiations

In some cases, required repairs can affect the appraisal and loan approval.

🏆 Seller Control Matters

Selling with Brokerless means you decide how to handle inspection repair requests — without pressure from commission-driven agents.

Many sellers save thousands by choosing credits or price adjustments instead of costly repairs.

📌 Summary

  • Sellers are not automatically required to pay for repairs
  • Most inspection repairs are negotiated
  • Lender-required repairs are a separate issue
  • Credits and price reductions are common alternatives