What Happens After the Inspection? (Repairs, Credits & Negotiation)

If you’ve never bought a home before, the inspection can feel like the most stressful part of the entire process.

You go from excited…
to staring at a 30-page report wondering if you just made a mistake.

So what happens after a home inspection? That’s the part many buyers aren’t fully prepared for

The inspection is where the real conversations start — not where deals fall apart.

Let’s talk about what actually happens next.

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Step 1: Review the Report Without Panic

Almost every inspection report looks long. Even on well-maintained homes.

Inspectors document everything:

• Loose outlets

• Minor roof wear

• Caulk cracking

• HVAC age

• Small plumbing drips

That doesn’t mean the house is “bad.”

Your job (and my job as your agent) is to separate:

• 🔴 True structural/safety concerns

• 🟡 Major cost items

• 🟢 Normal homeowner maintenance

Not every item deserves a repair request.

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Step 2: Decide What’s Reasonable to Ask For

This is where strategy matters.

Reasonable requests usually involve:

• Roof leaks

• Electrical hazards

• Plumbing issues

• Structural movement

• Active water intrusion

• Major system failures

Not reasonable (most of the time):

• Cosmetic issues

• Minor wear and tear

• Old but functioning systems

• Small handyman items

Remember — you’re buying a resale home, not a brand-new construction.

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Step 3: Repairs or Credit?

You generally have three options:

1️⃣ Ask the seller to make repairs

2️⃣ Ask for a credit at closing

3️⃣ Accept the home as-is

In many cases, credits are cleaner.

Why?

Because you control:

• The contractor

• The quality of work

• The timeline

It also keeps the deal moving instead of turning into a back-and-forth repair battle.

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Step 4: Negotiation Happens

The seller can:

• Agree

• Counter

• Refuse

• Offer partial credit

This isn’t personal.

It’s business.

And how it plays out depends on:

• The market

• How competitive the property was

• How strong your original offer was

• Whether the seller needs to sell

This is where experience matters.

You don’t want to:

• Overreact and kill a good deal

• Or ignore something that could cost you thousands later

There’s a balance.

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The Big Picture

The goal of the inspection phase isn’t to “win.”

It’s to protect your investment while keeping perspective.

Most deals don’t fall apart because of inspections.

They fall apart because of emotion.

When buyers stay calm, focused, and strategic, inspections become a tool — not a threat.

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💬 Final Thought

The inspection phase is about clarity — not fear.

You’re not looking for a perfect house. You’re looking for a solid one.

When you understand what’s reasonable to request, what can be managed later, and how negotiations actually work, the stress level drops dramatically.

In the next post in this Buyer Series, I’ll walk through what happens if negotiations stall — when to push, when to compromise, and when walking away is actually the right move.

– Shawn Long
ERA Martin Associates | Shawn Sells Delmarva
Serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Real estate doesn’t have to feel overwhelming — you don’t have to figure it out alone.