Case studies
How We Protected a Chatsworth Home Seller From a $102,000 Repair Demand and Sold for $950,000
SOLD FOR $950,000 | OUT-OF-STATE SELLER | $102,000 REPAIR REQUEST CHALLENGED
9840 Quartz Avenue | Chatsworth, California
SOLD FOR $950,000 | OUT-OF-STATE SELLER | $102,000 REPAIR REQUEST CHALLENGED
Getting a buyer into escrow is only half the battle when selling a home. What happens during inspections and negotiations can have a significant impact on how much money a seller ultimately walks away with.
At 9840 Quartz Avenue in Chatsworth, our seller faced an extraordinary challenge when the first buyer requested $102,000 in repairs or credits after conducting their home inspection.
Rather than accepting the demand or encouraging our client to give up a substantial amount of money to keep the deal together, the Scott Himelstein Group brought in our own inspectors to evaluate the findings and challenge estimates we believed were not justified.
We ultimately moved on from that buyer, secured another buyer, and sold the home for $950,000, with an accepted repair credit of just $10,000.
Here’s how we helped an out-of-state homeowner navigate the sale of a longtime family home and protect her financial interests.
The Challenge: Selling a Longtime Family Home From Virginia
For decades, this four-bedroom Chatsworth pool home had been our clients’ primary residence. It was the place they called home for many years before eventually converting it into a rental property.
For approximately 10 years, the home was rented out.
After her husband passed away, the surviving homeowner relocated to Virginia. When she decided it was time to sell, she needed an experienced local real estate team to manage the process from thousands of miles away.
The home had a great deal to offer, including four bedrooms, a spacious floor plan, a large backyard, and a private swimming pool. But after serving as a primary residence and then a rental property for many years, it needed preparation before being introduced to the market.
Our responsibility was to coordinate that preparation, market the property effectively, and represent the seller’s interests throughout the transaction.
What we didn’t know at the beginning was that the biggest challenge would come after we accepted an offer.
Our Strategy: Preparing and Marketing the Chatsworth Property
Once we took on the listing, our first priority was getting the property ready for sale.
With the homeowner living in Virginia, we served as her local point of contact and coordinated the preparation and marketing process.
Our approach focused on showcasing the property’s strongest features while helping buyers appreciate the possibilities of a well-established Chatsworth home.
Highlighting the Home’s Best Features
The 2,093-square-foot, two-story home was located on a beautiful tree-lined Chatsworth street.
A double-door entrance opened to a spacious foyer and living room featuring a brick fireplace, with easy access to the formal dining room.
The eat-in kitchen offered generous cabinet storage, a breakfast bar, and a five-burner gas cooktop. A large combination laundry room and office area provided additional flexibility.
Upstairs were four bedrooms, including the primary suite with its private bathroom and dual sinks.
One of the property’s standout features was its oversized backyard, with a large private swimming pool and plenty of space for entertaining.
Our marketing showcased the home’s layout, lot size, pool, and the lifestyle opportunities that made it appealing to Chatsworth buyers.
Professional Photography and YouTube Marketing
We used professional listing photography and video marketing to give buyers a better understanding of the property’s interior, exterior, and overall layout before scheduling a showing.
The video tour allowed prospective buyers to see the home’s features beyond traditional listing photographs.
With the property prepared and marketed, we secured a buyer and opened escrow.
That’s when the transaction took an unexpected turn.
The Unexpected Obstacle: A $102,000 Request for Repairs
After entering escrow, the first buyer conducted a home inspection.
The buyer subsequently presented a $102,000 request for repairs or credits.
For our seller, that was an enormous financial demand, particularly after already agreeing to sell the property and moving forward with the transaction.
As experienced real estate agents, we understand that inspections can reveal legitimate concerns. Buyers have every right to evaluate a property’s condition and negotiate appropriate requests.
However, sellers also deserve to know whether those requests are supported by accurate findings and reasonable estimates.
We weren’t prepared to recommend that our client concede $102,000 without examining the claims carefully.
We Brought in Our Own Inspectors
Rather than relying exclusively on the buyer’s inspection findings and repair estimates, we arranged for our own inspectors to evaluate the disputed items.
The additional inspections gave us a second professional perspective on the property’s condition and the proposed repairs.
Based on those evaluations, we believed significant portions of the buyer’s requests were not supported by the property’s actual condition.
This gave us a stronger factual basis for our negotiations and allowed us to advise the seller with greater confidence.
Knowing When to Walk Away
One of the most important decisions in real estate is recognizing when the terms of a transaction no longer make financial sense for the seller.
In this case, we were unwilling to recommend the $102,000 concession.
Instead of agreeing to the demand simply to preserve the escrow, we took the position that the requested amount was not justified.
The first transaction did not move forward, and we returned the property to the market.
That decision involved some risk. There is never a guarantee that another buyer will come along or that a subsequent offer will produce better terms.
But our responsibility was to protect the seller’s interests, not simply close a transaction at any cost.
The Second Buyer: A $10,000 Credit Instead of $102,000
After the first transaction ended, we secured another buyer who completed their own inspections.
This buyer also requested a repair credit, but the amount was dramatically different: $10,000 rather than $102,000.
After evaluating the request, we determined that the $10,000 credit was reasonable and recommended accepting it. The seller agreed, and the transaction proceeded to closing.
That was a $92,000 difference between the two buyers’ repair requests.
While the buyers’ offers and other transaction terms may have differed, this experience demonstrated the importance of independently evaluating inspection findings rather than automatically accepting a substantial repair demand.
The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
$102,000
FIRST BUYER REQUEST
$10,000
FINAL BUYER CREDIT
$92,000
Difference in repair demands
View all 34 photos
Watch Our Chatsworth Pool Home Video Tour
Explore the spacious floor plan, traditional living areas, large backyard, and private pool at 9840 Quartz Avenue.
YouTube property tour:
The Result: $950,000 Sale With a $10,000 Repair Credit
The Chatsworth property successfully closed on March 7, 2023, for $950,000, with a negotiated $10,000 buyer credit.
For our seller in Virginia, this meant completing the sale of a property that had served as her family home for decades and later as a rental investment.
We coordinated the sale from across the country, challenged an unsupported six-figure repair request using additional professional inspections, navigated a failed first escrow, and completed a successful transaction with another buyer.
The difference between the original $102,000 request and the final accepted $10,000 credit was substantial.
The lesson? A strong real estate agent doesn’t stop negotiating once a home goes into escrow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling a Home in Chatsworth
Can a buyer request $100,000 or more in repairs after a home inspection?
Yes. A buyer may request substantial repairs or credits after conducting inspections, but the seller is not automatically obligated to agree. The parties’ rights depend on the purchase contract and applicable contingencies. At 9840 Quartz Avenue, the first buyer requested $102,000, which we challenged after obtaining additional professional evaluations.
Does a seller have to pay for everything listed in a home inspection report?
No. An inspection identifies property conditions, but it does not automatically obligate the seller to complete or pay for every recommended repair. Depending on the contract, the parties can negotiate. We help homeowners distinguish between reasonable requests and those requiring additional investigation.
What happens when a buyer asks for an unreasonable repair credit?
Sellers can review inspection findings, obtain qualified second opinions, and negotiate a response. Depending on contractual rights and obligations, the transaction may proceed or terminate. For this Chatsworth property, we obtained additional inspections and ultimately moved forward with another buyer.
Can I get a second opinion on a buyer’s home inspection?
Yes. A seller can hire qualified inspectors or contractors to evaluate identified concerns. A second professional opinion can help establish the seriousness of an issue and whether the proposed repair costs are reasonable. This was an important part of our approach at 9840 Quartz Avenue.
What happens if a home falls out of escrow in Chatsworth?
A property can often be returned to the market after a transaction terminates, subject to the contract and any outstanding obligations. At 9840 Quartz Avenue, we secured another buyer after the first escrow ended and ultimately completed the sale for $950,000.
Can I sell my Chatsworth rental property if I live out of state?
Yes. An experienced local real estate agent can help coordinate preparation, marketing, showings, inspections, negotiations, and escrow while the seller lives elsewhere. Our client lived in Virginia, and we coordinated the local details of selling her former Chatsworth residence.
Should I renovate a longtime rental property before selling it?
That depends on the property’s condition, improvement costs, comparable sales, and buyer demand. Some homes benefit from cosmetic improvements, while others may be better sold without major renovations. A property-specific analysis can help determine the most practical approach.
How do I choose a Chatsworth real estate agent experienced in negotiations?
Ask prospective agents about their approach to inspection disputes, repair credits, escrow complications, and transactions that fall apart. Look for documented examples of how they handled difficult situations, not just their listing and sales totals.
What is my Chatsworth home worth if it needs updating?
Value depends on location, square footage, lot size, condition, recent comparable sales, and current market demand. An individualized analysis can help establish an appropriate price and determine whether improvements are worthwhile.
Where Is 9840 Quartz Avenue?
Selling a Home in Chatsworth? Experienced Representation Matters.
Whether you’re selling a longtime family home, a former rental property, or a house that needs updating, having an experienced negotiator can make a meaningful difference.
The Scott Himelstein Group helps homeowners throughout Chatsworth and the San Fernando Valley prepare, market, negotiate, and successfully close their home sales.
Let Scott work for you.
Contact Scott Himelstein for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation about selling your Chatsworth property.
Case studies
How We Sold a Northridge Townhome for $20,050 Over Asking While the Sellers Lived in the Bay Area
SOLD FOR $620,000 | MULTIPLE OFFERS | $20,050 OVER ASKING
After 219 Days Without Selling, We Sold This Porter Ranch Trust Property in Just 14 Days
SOLD FOR $850,000 | TRUST SALE | 4 BENEFICIARIES | PREVIOUSLY UNSOLD FOR 219 DAYS
How We Generated 14 Offers and Sold an Inherited Porter Ranch Home for $125,050 Over Asking
SOLD FOR $1,125,000 | TRUST SALE | 14 OFFERS | $125,050 OVER ASKING