Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Can we be forced to hire a contractor for basic repairs?
From: "David W." 
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 17:42:28 -0500

"Eric Tonks"  wrote in
news:426e94e1$0$56614$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com: 

> If the repair "must" be done according to law, by a licensed person,
> then you must do it. If it is something you "could" have repaired the
> day before the offer came in, then what is the problem with you
> repairing it the day after (or whatever) the offer came in. Actually
> you should have had all these silly problems addressed before the
> house went up for sale, but they seem to be real nit pickers. I assume
> that you have taken 5 minutes and "fixed" all these problems by now,
> and there is nothing left for a "licensed window lubricator" to work
> on. There should be no delay to affect the sales agent.

Doesn't matter - no matter how many things you fix, no house is perfect, 
and the nit pickers will always find something to complain about.

Part of the problem is home inspecters that think that they have to justify 
their high prices or avoid potential lawsuits by listing every nit-picky 
detail in the  inspection report. I've had a number of buyers who just copy 
the list, which can run for pages and pages, including every drywall flaw 
and appliance scratch, and say, "We want it all fixed!" Sheesh!

I'd tell the buyer that the issues are resolved, end of conversation. The 
farthest I'd go would be to point out that there's no such thing as a 
licensed window unsticker or a licensed toilet flush chain contractor.