The radon levels in the water came back slightly elevated. We agreed to either install or credit them the cost of a carbon water mitigation system.

They came back asked for a $10k credit. Yes, ten thousand dollars. The cost of the system ranges from 1000-1300. We got two quotes from basement system companies.

The buyer is refusing to give us a written itemization of how they came up with the 10,000.

He's basically trying to just renegotiate the cost of the house. I'm frankly appalled his buyers agent would event submit such a crazy request without proper documentation.

We don't have the results of the radon air test back yet. If that comes back high, we would again concede the cost or install a system.

So, our deal is off. And we are moving across the country in exactly one month. I'm beyond devastated and stressed.

I guess I just need a group hug.

What is amazing is they just ask for it like that would be no problem, yea right. Want me to hang the moon for you too. Home inspections have gotten why out of hand...it is not a license for extortion. Real estate agents need to mange these buyers expectations, particularly first time buyers.

We happened to be visiting the area last year and drove by the old house ... 7 years later they still hadn't fixed the driveway!!!!!

Figure out a way to get this deal done. Good luck.

I would be mad if I was chispa and saw that they just used it to negotiate the price down. BUT that is me bringing in the emotional side of selling the house :)

If you need to get out of the house (and state), you may need to start negotiating. You think it is stressful now, wait until you are across the country and you can be at the house when you need to be.

Good luck!

Chispa-that is so aggravating! I really hate it when people use inspection to try to renegotiate the price.

Amtrucker-ugh, I'm so sorry you lost your buyer. But you are lucky that you don't have to move immediately. I hope you sell quickly.

Luv2design-how annoying! What did you decide to do? That really stinks you had multiple offers and now how this headache.

Ncrealestateguy-yes, I agree with having items done prior to listing to avoid such a headache. We were told though not to do anything for radon. It then becomes a disclosure issue, and can be unnecessary given the natue of radon to "ebb and flow". Our agent says it is just addressed at closing, although he has never had ask someone ask for 10k for a 1k system without detailing what they need it for.

Mpinto-I hadn't thought of Involving our attorney. I'll ask my agent about that.

I have no problem with renegotiating a price after an inspection, if the inspection reveals something that was not easily apparent to a buyer. In my case it was a large semi circular driveway in front of the house and it was very obvious that it had seen better days! They parked on the street and walked all the way up on the driveway each time they saw the property. But based on the fact it was not repaired after 7 years, we know they played us by threatening to back out at the last minute if we didn't give the discount. I can hope that karma will take care of them at some point!!

drybean - your DH is right! Work out some kind of a deal with the buyer and get it sold now. Good luck and send me an email when you get to LA!

It is a lot of work, and if you pay others for every task your odds of actually making a profit become vanishingly small (unless you do only cosmetic 'repairs' and sell junk or only purchase places already in very good condition).

Mt RE agent makes sure that offerors are aware that there will NOT be ANY price concessions based on an inspection.

NONE.

They are free to have one, but the price already reflects anything their HI is going to find.

The research I did on radon told me that only a small number of people could get lung cancer IF subjected to this over a LIFETIME. How long is a lifetime? 80 years? Well thats about the time you die anyway - so how can you prove it was radon that did you in? I truly think the radon scare is just a gimmick, designed to sucker those who live in fear out of their money. One minute eggs are bad for you - too much cholesterol. Next minute they're healthy. Really doesn't matter - we are all going to die sometime, and if your number is up, God is going to take you out no matter how well you safeguarded yourself. Yes, you want to protect yourself within reason, but there is also such a thing as worrying about nothing.

Our inspection turned up radon in the basement, and our buyer asked me to pay for a mitigation system. This was coming from a guy in his 50's who smoked. Amazing - he's not concerned about his chances of cancer from being a smoker - but he wanted me to safeguard him from radon. He had also lived somewhere else for the previous 50 years - so who is to say that my house would have killed him? I told him "no - your health concerns are your problem, you pay for it". My realtor thought I was committing house seller suicide by denying him that, but I stuck to my guns because I knew I was right. And he still bought the house.

Buyers can & do use the option period and/or inspections to re-negotiate the contract, & the buyer's agent's job is to get the buyer the best price & terms possible, which isn't about documentation at all.

With a reasonable buyer & a reasonable seller, the option period & inspections serve a useful purpose, protecting the buyer from unforseen major bad surprises (termites from floor to roof, lead plumbing, scenic creek on lot is fed by run-off from the nuclear plant, etc);
it sounds like you've just got an aggressive buyer.

If the option period hasn't expired, he can ask for anything, including the moon, & you can accept, counter, or decline;
if you counter or decline, he can cancel the contract.

I wouldn't want to give you "advice", since this sounds like a ticklish transaction, but I will tell you that sometimes an aggressive buyer will not stop negotiating until the seller has signed the closing papers, turned off his cell phone, left the building, & caught a plane for a remote island.

Consult with your agent & work out a plan, including contingencies for future demands.

I wish you the best.