If you’re like many people, you’ve made a deal with a home-seller – and part of that deal was that they would make repairs to the property before closing day. But what happens if a seller doesn’t complete repairs before closing? What recourse do you have? This guide explains.

What Happens if a Seller Doesn’t Complete Repairs Before Closing?

First things first: Your REALTOR® will be there with you every step of the way when you buy a home in Midland. If anything out-of-the-ordinary happens (such as the seller failing to complete repairs before closing), your agent will know what to do.

You can, of course, refuse to close on the home. If you refuse to close on the home because the seller hasn’t lived up to their end of the deal, you may want to do it kindly – especially if you still want the home. You can talk to the seller about pushing back the closing for a few days (or even a few weeks) to give the seller extra time.

However, bear in mind that sometimes, sellers simply won’t make the repairs. It could be that they don’t have the money to do so, they’ve been too busy, or they may be afraid to mess with the closing date. You should talk to your REALTOR about whether you should negotiate further in a situation like this – or if you should just walk away from the deal.

Related: 10 important questions to ask your lender

If you’ve already closed, you’ll definitely want to contact an attorney about your options. You could be eligible to file a claim against the seller in court so that you can recover your financial losses from the seller failing to complete repairs before closing.

What Are Your Other Options?

If you can’t negotiate the repairs with the seller, push back your closing date or find another resolution, you may want to:

  • Ask the seller to prepay for the repairs you requested before you actually close on the house. The seller may be willing to pay someone to make the repairs after closing – and though it’s probably not ideal for you, at least the repairs will be made and you can go ahead with the deal.
  • Ask the seller to give you a closing credit. Your REALTOR can ask the seller to compromise by giving you a credit of the amount it would cost to make the repairs. The seller may also be willing to reduce the closing price.
  • Ask for money to come out of the seller’s proceeds and go into escrow. Your REALTOR can ask that a portion of the seller’s proceeds from the sale be put into an escrow account that will be transferred to you at closing. Then, you can use the money to make the repairs after the deal is sealed.

Related: First-time buyer’s guide to mortgage loans

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