|
Contract Negotiation: Terms and Conditions
No-one should ever simply
sign a real estate purchase contract without thinking about it, looking through
it and analyzing the consequences that will occur after it is signed. As with
any type of contract there is defiantly a lot to consider, and if the terms and
conditions don not suit you, then you shouldn’t sign the agreement. If you have
any problems with the wording or terms of the contract you should always seek
the advice of your realtor, who will be glad to help you out, or, if you have
one, your attorney.
If you are pretty
comfortable with the contract you should still read it all. Most real estate
purchase contracts are packed with legal jargon and other such things. If there
is anything that you don not like or understand do not hesitate to ask
questions to your realtor or attorney. Better to ask questions now than after you’ve signed it and are liable. Some of the more
important questions to ask include those below.
Finding out the
cutoff dates for the inspection and approvals reports should be something that
you need to think about. A normal real estate contract gives the buyer the
right to hire all kinds of people to check out your homes condition. The more
time that is allowed benefits the buyer, so if you are selling your home then
you may want to look at setting the dates out.
As a good
precaution you may want to ask who is liable for any repairs that maybe needed
after an inspection. Even if a buyer has someone perform a check on your house,
you are not obliged to make the repairs or modifications that may result from
the inspectors report. Most reports however are used to negotiate repairs for
major problems and safety issues, so you should be prepared to possible accept
some of the fees. Check your contract first though.
You should
always make aware to the buyer; usually through your contract, what parts of
the house are in good order. This gives the buyer the information as to what is
being sold as is and in good working order, so as no confusion can arise.
Home warranty
plans are becoming very popular in real estate dealings. A home warranty plan is a limited insurance policy
covering the basic major systems and appliances in the property. It is equally
important for both the sellers and buyers and should be considered.
Throughout your real estate
dealings you should always be aware when the escrow is scheduled to close. If
you are the seller you must move out by this date, so you will have to make
sure that the closing date doesn’t fall before you move into your new home.
Don’t’ cut the dates too close.
To discuss this topic Click Here to go to our Online Forum |