Should I ask the seller to repair the sewer or reduce the purchase price?
A repair before closing may resolve the issue sooner, while a credit or price adjustment may give you more control over the work. They are not financially interchangeable, and lender rules may limit credits. Discuss the terms with your agent and lender, using a clear scope and contractor proposals to inform the negotiation.
What to consider
Define the work before negotiating who will pay for it. A written proposal should identify the area of concern, the recommended remedy, and relevant assumptions. Unclear scope makes it harder to evaluate either a seller-arranged repair or a monetary concession.
A repair before closing requires agreement about who performs the work and how completion will be documented or checked. A credit may give the buyer control of later work, but does not necessarily provide unrestricted cash. A price reduction changes the purchase price rather than directly funding a repair.
Ask your agent and lender which arrangements are allowed and how they affect closing. Use independent findings and qualified contractor proposals, not a guessed repair figure. Our buying or selling with sewer concerns page puts those choices in context.
Read more: Buying or Selling With Sewer Concerns
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