What happens if the inspection finds problems?
Almost every inspection finds something — the question is severity. Your options: ask for repairs, ask for a credit or price cut, accept as-is, or cancel inside your inspection period and keep your deposit. We sort findings into normal wear versus real leverage, then choose.
First, steady: almost every home — including new ones — produces a list. The report isn't a verdict; it's a decision menu. Here's how we work it.
Sort before you react
Three piles. Normal wear and maintenance — most of the list, most of the time. Real-money items — roof, AC, electrical, plumbing, moisture — that change the deal's math. And unknowns that need a specialist or a contractor bid before they can be priced. The pile determines the play.
Your four options
Ask the seller to make repairs. Ask for a credit or price reduction and control the work yourself. Accept and proceed with eyes open. Or — inside Florida's inspection period — cancel with written notice and keep your deposit. Remember the baseline: under the as-is contract, the seller isn't obligated to fix anything, so everything except walking is a negotiation, not an entitlement.
Choosing well
Small stuff isn't worth burning goodwill over — save the ask for what matters. Credits usually beat seller-managed repairs, because you pick the contractor and the standard. And bids beat guesses: a $9,000 problem negotiates very differently than a "probably expensive" one. The mechanics of asking well are their own craft.
When a report lands heavy, we price the real items, weigh the deal against the alternatives, and decide with numbers instead of nerves. Some of my proudest saves were deals we fixed — and a couple were deals we left.
This answer is general education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your situation is unique — let's talk through the specifics together.