Bah.. Closing Issues.

Are We Asking for that Much?

Like all crazy homeowners to be, we get inspections upon inspections and pay $500 bucks here, $1000 there and somewhere, someone sends us a PDF file that say a closet door does not close all the way.  I think I could probably do home inspections better than half of smucks out there.  
Rants aside, our home-to-be had a inspection and found a small issue under the house or could have been large.  Needless to say, another inspection was ordered and it was determine that a $1500 remedy was in order.  A few other misc items that were basic maintenance items on homes were not done.  So we asked for them remedy them.  
Now, if someone gave you more than asking price on your home and the report came back that there was some legitimately need attention, would you

A. Fix It
B. Offer Concessions
C. Forget it?

If you answer A, you are correct.  If you answer B, offer the buyers the correct compensation for the repairs requested based upon quotes provided to the sellers.   Its not a low ball tactic to get more out of their pockets... the buyers simply want it fixed or repaired.    
Needless to say.. they low balled the repair and we had to go back and forth until they agreed to offer correct compensation for the repairs... (which we have to do now).

Now if you are a smart buyer/seller, you start throwing the terms "as-is" around.  But play with these words carefully.   As-is basically says you are purchasing or selling the home as-is.  You can have inspections done, but repairs or concessions are not going to happen on either end.  Where do you use these terms in your agreements?  Many ways to twist the offers to include as-is.  Or better yet, save as-is for counter offers.   Maybe you offered lower than asking, the seller counters with $500 below asking.  Buyer counters again but with as-is terms.  Now, its probably only smart if you are going against multiple bidders and you comfortable with the home and the quality of work around.   Will a gremlin pop out after you buy it?  Maybe, maybe not.

And the closing issues continue with underwriters probably sitting around a bar down the street from CaptialOne360, smoking poorly rolled cigarettes and making crappy attempts to approve mortgages such as ours.  If its not the appraisals, its the wire transfers.  If its not that then its something else.   Basically if you do not call in ever day to check on the status... nothing gets done.  "oh we need a copy of the earnest money paid."   Well Team X, I did send in a copy of the cashiers check 3 weeks ago and we talked about this the last 5 days.