The inspection report lands, it's fourteen pages long, and closing is in three weeks. This is the moment most deals get tense — not because the repairs are hard, but because nobody knows what they cost or who's doing them.
Start by separating the list into three buckets. Safety and structural items are non-negotiable and usually have to be fixed. Functional items — a leaking valve, a sticking door, a damaged screen panel — are typically negotiable but cheap enough that repairing is faster than arguing. Cosmetic notes are almost never worth a delay.
Get the whole list priced line by line before you respond to the buyer. This is the single biggest thing sellers get wrong: they negotiate a credit before knowing the actual repair cost, and end up giving away far more than the work would have taken. A written, itemized number turns a vague concession into a decision you can actually make.
Then be realistic about sequencing. Drywall needs time to dry between coats. Paint needs the drywall finished first. If flooring is involved, trim comes off and goes back on. A contractor who tells you a full punch list is a one-day job either hasn't read the report or isn't planning to do it properly.
Finally, document everything. Photos of each completed item, attached to the original line number, save an enormous amount of back-and-forth at the final walkthrough. Buyers relax when they can see the work, and agents stop fielding calls about whether it actually got done.
REO Professional Services prices inspection reports line by line for Realtors and homeowners across Orlando and Central Florida. Send us the report — call or text (407) 802-9637.