Repair Credits - When the seller says no

Repair Credits - When the seller says no

Investor · Evanston, IL · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 0 votes

So my real estate partnership LLC (a couple friends and I) are under contract to purchase a 2-flat/duplex in Chicago. The inspection uncovered termites, basement floor joists needing replacement due to the termite invasion, moderate tuckpointing needed and a couple of things sured up on the back wooden deck. There were a few minor things needing long-term attention as well. Other than that it is a good investment, section 8-approved, fully rented GREAT cash flow. So we asked for the credit to pay contractors to address the termites, floor joists, the back deck repairs and half the tuckpointing quote, amounting to about $6,400. The seller will only cover the termite eradication (about $1400) leaving us to repair the rest. We are pretty much throwing what we can out of our pockets/retirement funds to cover the down payment and won't have 2-3K each on top of that to cover the repairs - at least not for a while.

What are our options? Do we walk away? Ask to reduce the sale price? I want the building but don't want to sign up for taking on all these issues without the seller helping out in a fairly significant way. I'd like to think he's a motivated seller but apparently he has his limits.

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Crystal SmithPro Member
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Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
11y

If I understand this post correctly, after you purchase this property your LLC will have very little or no reserves left to cover stuff. I'm not talking about the stuff you've listed in the post; I mean the stuff that will come up after you close. If you're paying cash for the duplex maybe the 1st few months rents can be used to build up your reserve. If you haven't paid cash & now have a mortgage, you can still possible set aside the net operating income to build up some reserves.

Bottom line you need to run the numbers and ensure you have a plan to ensure reserves before you make your next move.  If you close & now have zero reserves and something happens @ the property that requires cash well......

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  • Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    11y

    You could raise the price, then have then seller raise his credits, or do some of the repairs, as long as it will still appraise, and you stay within the allowed seller contribution limits.  Verify these with your loan officer.

  • Crystal SmithPro Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    If I understand this post correctly, after you purchase this property your LLC will have very little or no reserves left to cover stuff. I'm not talking about the stuff you've listed in the post; I mean the stuff that will come up after you close. If you're paying cash for the duplex maybe the 1st few months rents can be used to build up your reserve. If you haven't paid cash & now have a mortgage, you can still possible set aside the net operating income to build up some reserves.

    Bottom line you need to run the numbers and ensure you have a plan to ensure reserves before you make your next move.  If you close & now have zero reserves and something happens @ the property that requires cash well......

  • Investor · Evanston, IL · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    It cash flows well, even with a mortgage, taxes and insurance we would net 1400-1500 per month, so we could be close to 5K after 3 months. But I'm asking about this juncture. The seller counter-offered $5000 less than what we asked for in credits. Do we then reduce our offer? Ask him to fix the issues prior to closing?

  • Contractor · Temple, TX · Member since 2014 · 379 posts · 164 votes
    11y

    If the seller won't repair the issues or give you enough credits to cover it, then he either needs to lower the purchase price or you and your partners should consider walking away.  This is all a numbers game.  If the numbers aren't going to work, walk away.  Don't fall in love with or get attached to a property.  It is an investment!

  • Omaha, NE · Member since 2014 · 201 posts · 85 votes
    11y

    keep in mind the seller may likely already discounted (asking price) allot of those items that he likely/secretly knew about (probably didnt know about the termites though). It sounds like you have found his price point at which he believes the property is worth currently and that amount he can get out of the property, either by you or a different buyer. 

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 79 posts · 17 votes
    11y

    See if you can figure out their reservation price, i.e.,  the maximum they will be willing to provide. Right now, they have given you the lowest - remember, it's almost a done deal but if you walk, they will have to relist, look for more buyers, etc, or even pay another month's mortgage. Do you know why they are selling? So what's the next step? Counter their offer.

    Next step would be to do a give-and-take. Lower your want from $6400 to $6270 and then ask for something else of value (to YOU - carpet cleaning or professional cleaning, etc in the offer.  See what they come back with. 

  • Real Estate Consultant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 720 posts · 439 votes
    11y

    @Chidi Osuji,

    You can also counter his counter. Go back and ask to split the entire repair 50-50 and he might come up from his original $1400 offer.

    A lot of sellers will expect another counter. If he still refuses, counter again with a different number. It's all a numbers game and you have nothing to loose. If he keeps saying No, then you are back where you started and you just have to take a decision if you want to move on with the deal or not. 

    I don't know the details of the deal and how you managed to find the only property with termites in Chicago. :) I have seen only one home with termites in 12 years, and have looked at tens of thousands of properties in Chicago. 

    In the end if your numbers work and you still want the property, then move on.

  • Rental Property Investor · Yardley, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 561 votes
    11y

    If the property works at the asking price PLUS the repairs, then can you simply slowly do the repairs as your reserves build?

  • Arlington, TX · Member since 2013 · 62 posts · 11 votes
    11y

    The best salesman is silence.  If it doesn't work for you, than walk.  If the seller is really motivated they will reassess their counter offer.  If not than it's not the deal for you.   I have made far more progress in my negations by simply not taking the haggle bait.   I offer what I want to offer and leave the rest of it up to the seller.  If the seller counters back I simply say I have offered my highest offer and if that doesn't work for them they can re-list.  I live and die by my spreadsheet analysis. 

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    11y

    @Crystal Smith is right on point in her post above. You don't have $5k or $6k to cover repairs today; what will you do if the roof needs replacement, or the heating system needs replacement? Those are just a couple of the big ticket items that might come up needing replacement sooner than you will be able to afford the cost. 

  • Investor · Evanston, IL · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    @Steve Babiak  Thanks for the reply. Heating system and roof are all pristine per the inspector so the property is very attractive. Will have to wrestle it out a little bit or just build up reserves slowly as @Scott Weaner said. These aren't immediate things, except the termites.

  • Crystal SmithPro Member
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    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    @chidiosuji There's one item on your list of repairs that you should not do slowly.  That's the back deck.  If there's one exterior area that the Chicago Building Department monitors closely, it's porches.  I don't know what your inspector found.  Not even sure if it really matters.  The porch should be taken care of right after you close.  Don't allow it to become a potential liability.

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