Seller refusing to negotiate reasonable terms

[Patryk Prokopiuk]

I am buying a duplex, the seller (or should i say their agent that they communicate through) has been very aggressive, requesting “best and highest” offers from everyone at first.

I won’t go into details but we are in contract on the home that i bid 10K above asking (and already 20k above comps, but this is the market here right now and the math still works for me)

I agree to the price which is generous. Then have had all inspections done last week. There is a long list of things, i agreed to take on more than 50% of these 60+ big and large issues and requested the seller fix just the big items:

Both oil tanks are rusting and need to possibly be replaced, one missing a leg and sitting in cinder block.

Heating unit in one apt is 21 yrs old (life is 20-25)

No smoke/CO alarms

Electrical panel in one unit couldn’t be opened bc tenant said it sparked after recent storm

Other electrical unit has dual wiring and a couple cloth insulated wires (really old)

Deck is rotting and support beams sit on dirty not cement basing

The garage roof is at end of life

The garage walls are cracking & buckling

The response from the sellers agent is that they are not selling a perfect home and will only take 1-2 things to consider from a list of 60+!

Should i just walk away, take the hit of the 2-3000$ I’ve lost between all the inspections and appraisal fees and call it a day here? How can i have the seller be reasonable?

[Mike Cumbie]

Reasonable is a matter of perspective. I have never received a 60 item list to fix on a 1-4 unit property. If I did I am pretty sure the deal would be dead. If I was the seller (or sellers agent) and received a 60 number list, my guess is that they never looked at it, Planned on hitting me on inspection or had no clue what they were looking at when they walked through.