What is a home inspection repair request?
A 60-page inspection report isn't a negotiating position. Buyers do better picking the handful of items that really matter, such as a leaking water heater, a failed GFCI or a damp crawlspace, and asking for something specific on each: fix it, or give a credit.
This template ties the request to the purchase agreement and the inspection report, lists up to five items with what the buyer wants, and records the seller's answer beside each: agreed, a credit instead, agreed in part or declined. It totals any closing credit, sets a date for the agreed repairs, asks for licensed work, permits and receipts, and lets the buyer check the work at the final walk-through. Declined items leave the buyer's existing cancellation rights untouched.
- Best for
- Settling repairs after a home inspection, before closing
- Signed by
- Buyer and seller
- Items
- Up to five, each with a request and the seller's response
- Length
- 1-2 pages
When to use a home inspection repair request
- Asking for a roof repair or a credit to cover it
- Agreeing to fix safety items such as wiring or smoke alarms before closing
- Swapping several small repairs for one closing credit
- Recording a partial agreement after a round of negotiation
- A for-sale-by-owner deal with no agents to draft the paperwork
What you fill in
26 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: buyer, seller.
1 The sale
- Date of this request*
- Buyer name(s)*
- Seller name(s)*
- Property address*
- Date of the purchase agreement*
- Date of the inspection report*
- Inspector or company*
- Currency*
2 Items requested
- Item 1 — the problem*
- Item 1 — what the buyer asks for*
- Item 2 — the problem (optional)
- Item 2 — what the buyer asks for
- Item 3 — the problem (optional)
- Item 3 — what the buyer asks for
- Item 4 — the problem (optional)
- Item 4 — what the buyer asks for
- Item 5 — the problem (optional)
- Item 5 — what the buyer asks for
3 Seller's response
- Seller's response to item 1* Agreed. The Seller will do this as requested. · Agreed as a credit instead of a repair, included in the total credit below. · Agreed in part, as described in the notes below. · Declined.
- Seller's response to item 2 Agreed. The Seller will do this as requested. · Agreed as a credit instead of a repair, included in the total credit below. · Agreed in part, as described in the notes below. · Declined.
- Seller's response to item 3 Agreed. The Seller will do this as requested. · Agreed as a credit instead of a repair, included in the total credit below. · Agreed in part, as described in the notes below. · Declined.
- Seller's response to item 4 Agreed. The Seller will do this as requested. · Agreed as a credit instead of a repair, included in the total credit below. · Agreed in part, as described in the notes below. · Declined.
- Seller's response to item 5 Agreed. The Seller will do this as requested. · Agreed as a credit instead of a repair, included in the total credit below. · Agreed in part, as described in the notes below. · Declined.
- Notes on the responses (optional)
- Total credit to the buyer at closing (optional)
- Agreed repairs completed by*
4 Who signs
- Buyer signature and date · The buyer under the purchase agreement, who asks for the repairs.
- Seller signature and date · The seller, who answers each request. Signing confirms the responses shown.
What the home inspection repair request covers
- Items and responses
- Credit
- Repairs
- Items declined and the rest of the sale
Using the home inspection repair request, step by step
1 Link to the sale
Enter the buyer, seller, property, purchase agreement date and the inspector's report.
2 List the items
For each problem, describe it with the report page and say what you're asking for: a repair, a replacement or a credit.
3 Record the answers
Once the seller has replied, pick the response for each item, add notes for partial agreements, a total credit if any and the repair deadline.
4 Both sign
Send it to the seller to sign. The signed PDF becomes part of your purchase file.
Tips before you send it
- Stick to defects that matter: safety, structure, water and major systems. A long list of cosmetic items tends to get everything declined.
- Get a contractor's quote for big items so a requested credit is easy to justify.
- Check your inspection deadline in the purchase agreement; negotiating doesn't automatically extend it.
- Ask your lender early whether seller credits are capped.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Home inspection repair request: frequently asked questions
What if the seller declines everything?
Declined items simply aren't dealt with. The template says the buyer keeps any right the purchase agreement gives to cancel within the inspection period.
Can the seller give a credit instead of repairing?
Yes. Mark an item as agreed as a credit and enter the total credit. If the lender won't allow all of it, the parties agree a price reduction of the same amount instead.
How does the buyer know the repairs were done properly?
The seller agrees to use licensed contractors where needed, get permits and hand over invoices and warranties before closing. The buyer can check at the final walk-through.
Is an e-signed repair agreement part of the contract?
It says it forms part of the purchase agreement. Electronic signatures are widely accepted for documents like this; FileIt records an audit trail and Certificate of Completion with the PDF.