Hey there! I put my house on the market for $146k, but we agreed to sell it for $139k, even though I listed it as-is. The buyers requested repairs during the inspection, and we agreed to fix the roof, electrical issues, and more. We also negotiated a $2k concession at closing, down from their initial ask of $4k. One of the inspection items was to replace the main drain pipe stack. My realtor said it was a minor plumbing issue, so I signed off on it. But two plumbers quoted around $5,000 for a full stack replacement, way more than I expected.
The thing is, the pipe is actually functional, with just a small chip. Both plumbers suggested a licensed, code-compliant repair, which would cost around $500. A full replacement would mean opening up walls and drywall, which seems excessive for the minor damage. I’ve already agreed to a $7k reduction from the asking price, covered other repairs, and offered $2k at closing. If I go ahead with the $5k replacement, my profit of around $8-10k is not looking so good.
I’m thinking of suggesting an amendment to do a licensed repair instead of a full replacement and increase the concession to a total of $3k. My worry is, if I refuse the expensive replacement, could the buyers sue me, or would they more likely just walk away with their earnest money? I feel like I’m being fair and reasonable in my negotiations, but my realtor seems to think everything is set in stone after the inspection. Thanks for listening.