It’s a fairly common scenario: you purchase a house with a condition on home inspection, the inspector finds something wrong, and the seller agrees to have it fixed on or before closing. What’s the problem?
Well, it’s with the wording: on or before.
That phrase means that the seller doesn’t have to fix it before the day of closing. This can put buyers in a bind, because they can’t check themselves to make sure the work has been done until after closing, and are left to rely on the seller’s word that it has been acceptably completed.
If given the opportunity, always make repairs require by at least one week before closing. That way, you can reinspect and make sure it’s actually done before you give the seller their money.
