After a Home Inspection: Repair Requests and Seller Credits in California

Separate the report from the request. A report may identify conditions for further evaluation; a buyer may then ask for particular work or another negotiated change. What either party is required to do depends on applicable law and the signed transaction documents, not on a general online checklist. Ask your real-estate professional or a California real-estate attorney to interpret the agreement and any deadlines.

California’s Department of Real Estate explains that purchase terms are negotiated and documented in the agreement. Its reference guide to residential contract provisions and disclosures is background, not a substitute for reviewing your own signed contract.

Avoid reacting to the number of pages or line items. Identify what the report actually says, whether it recommends an expert evaluation, and whether the concern relates to safety, active damage, operation, maintenance, or appearance. If the condition or scope is unclear, ask a qualified professional for a property-specific explanation or estimate before deciding what to discuss.

• Read the buyer’s written request and the relevant report sections together.
• Separate confirmed findings from questions that still need an inspection or estimate.
• Keep existing records, receipts, and written professional opinions organized.
• Review any disclosure questions separately; do not hide a known condition or assume negotiation replaces required disclosures.

California’s transfer-disclosure requirements are set out in Civil Code section 1102.3 for transfers covered by that law. Applicability and other disclosure duties can be fact-specific, so confirm the correct process with your broker or attorney.

Depending on the facts and the parties’ agreement, possible discussions may include completing a defined repair, negotiating a credit, changing another term, or not reaching agreement. None is automatic. A repair requires a clear scope and a realistic way to document completion; a credit may be subject to the buyer’s loan terms and lender limits. Fannie Mae’s guidance on interested-party contributions is one example of financing rules that can apply; the buyer’s lender and escrow professional should confirm the specifics before a credit is agreed.

Put any agreed change in the required written form and follow the contract process. If the request, contingency, repair scope, credit, or deadline is unclear, pause and ask the appropriate transaction professional rather than relying on a general guide.

If you are comparing possible sale expenses, the Seller Proceeds Calculator can model assumptions you enter; it is not a repair bid, lender approval, or final settlement statement. Market Trends offers broad regional context, not a property valuation or a prediction of how one buyer will respond.

For other common seller questions, visit the Homeowner FAQ Center.