I might have lost a buyer for one of my properties. This young couple are first time home buyers with degrees from HGTV in home buying and remodeling. They have been looking for a home for the past two years unsuccessfully. So when they offered full asking price, home inspection and mortgage contingency - I accepted. They said they were willing to pay the first $2,000 in any required repairs.

Now I really should have asked what a required repair means. They got a list of issues of items that are not up to the current code. I explained that the code constantly changes and is several encyclopedias in size. So things like not having the current yellow 2-1 w/G wiring they gave me a shopping list of items. I told them pack sand on 95% of the line items. That along irritated me but when I saw the two estimates for the roof I blew a gasket. $28,000 and $35,000. Now I am not disagreeing that it will need a roof within the next three or so years. The current one is 21 years old and its a 30 year shingle. The appraiser didn't say it needed a new roof.

I told my buyer, that if they increase the sales price $35,000, I'll have my guy put the roof on. My roofer wants $13,800. Instead we will probably agree to just lower the sales price about half the REAL cost of the roof - $7,500.

I am just waiting for this kid to say the irritating thing. I can understand why they haven't been able to find a place. It is tough to listen to his reasoning.

Where is your sense of humor and adventure, Ray?

I have discovered that buyers, sellers and renters are a pain in the ....

Maybe you can get them to understand the amount they have paid in rent the last 2 years while trying to find the perfect home.

Insurance is an issue these days with roofs. They don't care it's still okay and doesn't need repair or replacement yet. If it's not new they want it replaced.

I have a house for which we cannot get a replacement value policy because the roof is not new. It's less than 20 years old and in perfectly fine shape, no leaks, etc.

So we just increased the declared value, as it was already under-valued.

It's a seller's market but some buyers think it's a buyer's

market with all the repair requests they want.

If this property was listed have you thought about throwing back on the market and for a new buyer?

Difficult to deal with, arrogant, irritating, been looking for 2 years. Most sellers won't deal with them so if you do it should be a more profitable sale if it goes through.

Typically I like it when you get the HGTV groupies. They think they know, they buy, and then they fail when it can't be fixed in budget and on time.

Takes more than an hour to rehab a home.

Looks like you will be putting a place back on the market.

RayRay,

I cringe every time the agents on these shows say "I'll get the seller to reduce the price...OR pay for a new roof".

The agent raises the hopes of those HGTV buyers.

AND the inspectors scare the bageebees into the buyers with their reports. "Water heater is old - might explode".

A realtor taught me that agents and buyers think in $5000 chunks. Windows a little aged? $5000. Want a different color paint? $5000. Driveway has a crack? $5000. Gutter dented? $5000.

I'll bet their agent is just as frustrated with them.

Recently I have been countering with AS IS.

RayRay,

I cringe every time the agents on these shows say "I'll get the seller to reduce the price...OR pay for a new roof".

The agent raises the hopes of those HGTV buyers.

AND the inspectors scare the bageebees into the buyers with their reports. "Water heater is old - might explode".

A realtor taught me that agents and buyers think in $5000 chunks. Windows a little aged? $5000. Want a different color paint? $5000. Driveway has a crack? $5000. Gutter dented? $5000.

I'll bet their agent is just as frustrated with them.

Recently I have been countering with AS IS.

As is where is