AITAH for not wanting to pay my buyer money to repaint my house because she doesn’t like the color?

r/

My husband and I are selling our home and we have buyers who are interested she hates the house and he loves it, we have been Through multiple showings with them and they asked if we would leave the appliances if they bought the home and we agreed, after they asked for our washer and dryer we said that’s fine, they the. Asked us to play all closing cost and we agreed to be nice and then they came to see our home again and the wife decided to tell the realtor that she hates the color our home is painted and we should pay the $3000 to have it repainted because she hates the color of our home. Are we assholes for not wanting to cover that?

Comments

  1. lyrical_llama Avatar

    Depends. Did you sell the home as-is? You should’ve outlined what you would or wouldn’t be willing to pay for going forward in the closing documents. 

  2. Jay_A_Why Avatar

    You can’t be an asshole for wanting or not wanting something. It’s just an internal thought.

  3. esec_mevale Avatar

    Your first mistake was agreeing to all of their terms.

    Your realtor should have told you not to do that.

  4. jfcmofo Avatar

    Yes! No! Why the fuck should I know? This should be a purely financial decision. Asking Reddit is the last thing you should be doing.

  5. Aeroblithe Avatar

    NTA, They are seeing how far they can push you. They can adjust their offer accordingly. Unless you have a unique property there should be plenty of offers.

  6. Bearliz Avatar

    NTA. Give them a hard pass. They will keep coming back on you gor every little thing after they buy it unless it is sold as is.

  7. BadBandit1970 Avatar

    Yes, you would be and your realtor is an idiot. Are you sure that they are representing you and your interests and not those of the buyer?

  8. ReasonableCookie9369 Avatar

    in the negotiations anything can be asked for, and anything can be refused. never should have given a mouse a cookie 

  9. Ruebee90 Avatar

    NTA! You are being more than generous! I purchased a home a year ago and was grateful to have the seller leave the appliances (did not ask for them) and pay half of the closing cost.

  10. Sassypants2306 Avatar

    Sorry you simply day.

    “I guess this house is not for you then” and let them go on their way. Stop loosing yourself money.

    Say that you’d rather keep the appliances, the washer the dryer and find people who actually want to buy the house as is thankyou.

    NTA

    But man you guys are screwing yourselves over….

  11. Agreeable-Region-310 Avatar

    Color is a design choice. Don’t agree to it.

    As far as the appliances, if they are older and you don’t mind getting new it is ok to include in the sale. Make sure you are not responsible for replacing or repairs if the need repairs before or after the sale of the house.

  12. GardenDivaESQ Avatar

    You are being nickel and dimed. They have found the golden goose.

  13. Choice_Bee_1581 Avatar

    How is the market and how much do you want to sell? It’s a business transaction.

  14. gutsyradio13 Avatar

    you’ve already conceded too much, find a new buyer. she doesn’t even like the house

  15. emkemkem Avatar

    You maybe should tell them that you agreeing on these things depends on their offer and how much they are willing to pay for the house. Because that is the reality they should be contemplating: What are they willing to pay for the house as it is compared to the price they’d pay if you’d agree on those things.

  16. pookapotomus2 Avatar

    Why are you agreeing to all this stuff? No. Just no. Stop being a doormat and decline.

  17. Hammingbir Avatar

    Give them an inch and they’ll ask for the moon. They’ll keep asking because she wants you to say no so she can persuade her husband to look elsewhere.

    Do her a favor and say no.

  18. Merkilan Avatar

    I can see a paint request if the paint was peeling off or otherwise in bad condition, but not due to color. They want a color change, they can do that after they own the house.

  19. PhDTARDIS Avatar

    I’d put my foot down. Not paying for painting and if you do not put down an offer by Friday, all of the things we have agreed to are gone. Fish or cut bait, you’re wasting our time.

  20. Belle-llama Avatar

    You should not be negotiating unless you have an offer in hand.  It’s just a waste of time and your realtor should have told you this.

  21. NYCStoryteller Avatar

    How desperate are you to sell the house?

    It’s pretty common for appliances to convey, so that’s normal.

    Agreeing to cover the closing costs – maybe, if it’s a really strong buyer’s market and your house has been sitting for a long time, and you’re on the verge of dropping the price.

    Repainting the house? Now they’re just seeing what they can get you to do to the house. What’s next? Putting in a pool for them or re-landscaping the yard?

  22. DawnRaine Avatar

    I hope you are still showing the house to other people. Is your house in ads? Be sure that the realtor isn’t trying to sell it because one person is interested. Multiple offers are a great thing. Do you have to be in a rush to sell? Someone else will like your house with fewer demands.

  23. LavendarGal Avatar

    NTA…..That is where you draw the line, no way, whatsoever do you pay to paint it…..and if they back out, then they back out. Let them. Sounds like they may be hard to deal with in general. Did they even do a home inspection yet? they are going to probably bee unreasoanble if anything comes up there too. You are giving too much, all appliances and all thee closing costs? Way too much.

    Is your market slow? Has your house been on the market and you have had no bites for several months or something? Unless that’s the case and you basically need to pay to unload your house, then draw the line and say no and let them walk.

  24. Ok-Beginning-1493 Avatar

    So far, you and husband are already giving away somewhere between $17,000–$40,000 💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸in value, before paint already been overly generous. Saying no to the $3,000 repaint is perfectly fair and honestly, you could (and maybe should) !!!! reconsider the earlier concessions too, because the buyers are pushing way beyond standard practice.

  25. JRAWestCoast Avatar

    No way. Be sure to guard you toothbrushes and clothes in the closets. Whatever these “buyers” think they can skim off you, they will. Enough is enough. You ANTAH! Convey through the real estate person that you appreciate the buyers’ interest but have conceded more than enough.

  26. Physical_Dance_9606 Avatar

    No but Y T A for not telling them to piss off much earlier

  27. mynameisnotsparta Avatar

    Never agree to an offer without a counter offer. By agreeing to things it makes you seem desperate.

    You should have calculated the cost of used appliances and countered.

    Tell them absolutely not for the painting. The wife is going to keep pushing and picking. NTA.

  28. Past-Obligation1930 Avatar

    Decide how much you want for the house.

    If the amount is higher than the offer, net of everything you have included in inducements, sell. If not, next buyer.

  29. MisterFrancesco Avatar

    tell these idiots to go to hell or the next request will be to pay them to take the house

  30. Rare_Sugar_7927 Avatar

    Nah shes just stalling because she doesn’t want to buy the house. As long as the paint is in good condition, I’d never foot the bill to repaint based just on the color.

    NTA But its time to start pushing back, or this is going to go on forever, and you’re going to end up paying them to buy your house.

  31. I-will-judge-YOU Avatar

    Stop agreeing to their requests. Do not conceded anything more. You haven’t even done an inspection yet, and you know they will find something to complain about and ask for more money.

    Stop. She will always hate it so just stop

  32. TheButcheress123 Avatar

    If you give a mouse a cookie…

  33. Nay0704 Avatar

    Just give them the house at this point. I wouldn’t even sell to them. NTA

  34. West-Kaleidoscope129 Avatar

    They’re asking for all of this because when they ask for stuff you give it to them. Might as well just hand over the house at this point lol.

    NTA if they want to change the colour they can change it and pay for it themselves.

  35. Inevitable-Slice-263 Avatar

    It’s fine to negotiate price and to discuss what fixtures / appliances will be left by the seller. When the buyer starts taking the piss you tell them no.
    Decorating is a normal thing to do after buying a house, expecting to to redecorate or drop the price by $3k is unreasonable.

    NTA to say no.

  36. sfgothgirl Avatar

    NTA. Wife is stalling; she doesn’t actually want to buy, but husband is oblivious or just doesn’t care.

    These are not the people you want to be in your future previous home. FFS, house color is a new owner problem. Given that it’s an as-is sale, the additional ask of painting the home means you’re out. Or, as the case may be, actually STILL IN (the house). Maybe you’ll find some buyers who absolutely love the house and you can leave knowing your home is in good hands. And I’m betting you can find a better offer than you’re getting here.

    Also, I know next to nothing about buying/selling a home, but it seems you might be better of with a different, perhaps more experienced, realtor.

  37. Daleaturner Avatar

    “Thank you for your interest in our house, but we have decided to go in other directions. We wish you the best in your further home search.”

    If you go forward, they will continue“finding” other things they say were hidden and want you to pay for them. It will be a never ending bitchfest.

    Cut your losses and happy house selling.

  38. DocDibber Avatar

    I made this mistake ONCE, and ended up telling them to pack sand.

  39. Fibro-Mite Avatar

    When we were selling our first house, the first couple of viewers seemed to assumed we would be recarpeting the entire place before they bought it. I looked at them as if they were batshit for even asking and simply said “no”. A house sale is pretty much “as seen” and it is (at least in the UK) up to the buyer to pay for any in depth structural survey. The standard one that the mortgage company/bank demand is basically a look around, without moving anything or even opening cupboards, to essentially make sure there are no indications that the place is at immiment risk of falling over in the next 20 years.

    But decor? Nope. I mean, if you have strong colours throughout, then most “how to market your house” guides will suggest you try and tone down the whole effect with neutral walls and I’ve done that in the past. I’ve also looked at the house I’m selling and tried to work out the best way to “stage” it to appeal to buyers. Like “this is a 270 year old cottage with thick walls and exposed beams, so let’s lean into that with a bit of a ‘cottage-core’ vibe” and grab some extra (and inexpensive) bits from antique or charity shops that will add a bit more to the overall look – and even offer to leave those if the buyer wants them.

  40. MyChoiceNotYours Avatar

    NTA Tell them clearly the home isn’t for them and you’re not going to be more out of pocket because she feels like she’s entitled to demand such things. If she doesn’t like the color that’s on her and only when they pay for the house and move in can they paint. Personally I’d tell them you won’t sell to them because they’re waisting your time and money. If you’re still willing to sell to them then they OWE YOU for time and money waisted.

  41. Initial_Dish6682 Avatar

    Get an investor.they will offer you a price and buy as is.

  42. Lucky-Effective-1564 Avatar

    It’s time to tell them to start looking elsewhere.

  43. LavenderKitty1 Avatar

    Her not liking the paint colour is her problem. She can paint it whatever colour she wants.

  44. chrestomancy Avatar

    This isn’t really an AH situation. It’s a financial negotiation. They are asking for anything and anything they might get – my guess is that she also likes the house, but they don’t want you to think they are keen. They sound like really good negotiators, in that they’ve pushed thousands of dollars of extra value out of you with nothing extra offered by them.

    You may be a terrible negotiator but you’re not an AH.

  45. SnarkySheep Avatar

    It’s a ridiculous ask to begin with. But what proof do you even have that they truly would repaint the house??

    If you agreed to give $3k for this purpose, I’d just about guarantee that a year after the sale, a drive past the house would reveal it to still be the original color. These people are just trying to get every possible dollar out of you.

    NTA

  46. Many5010 Avatar

    NTA. But does it make sense to potentially agree to cover the cost of repainting? Sure. If their current offer is more than another buyer is willing to put in writing, then yes. Otherwise, no.

  47. Decent_Front4647 Avatar

    Do not do that! If you paint it now, if there’s a problem they will demand you fix it. And you know it’s very possible she will find one. NTA

  48. Cute_Definition_6314 Avatar

    You do realize what’s actually happening here, right? You said the wife HATES the house. They will continue to ask for concessions because she is looking for a reason to convince her husband not to buy. They are wasting your time.

  49. Kristmaus Avatar

    NTA.

    Either the wife is dragging is feet and making ridiculous claims to make her husband walk away from the deal, or both of them are doing this charade to get more from you.

    Looks like you are giving up too much.

  50. westernfeets Avatar

    Where I live the appliances are often included. The seller pays realtor fees. What are closing costs are you referring to? Legal fees?

    People often have the interior painted a neutral color to make the house more attractive to purchasers. Maybe the wife is seeing this in other houses they are viewing.

    You are NTA for selling your house as is, but your realtor should be helping negotiate. If they want the house freshly painted, raise the price to cover.

  51. millimolli14 Avatar

    NTA absolutely not, I’d actually tell them you’re changing your mind about the closing costs too, they’re just acting entitled stop it now

  52. goddessofspite Avatar

    NTA. They are taking the piss. There’s a point where it’s understandable to compromise to close a sale. The first request was reasonable to ask. The second was not and this is now just crossing the line. Give up and get real buyers.

  53. wanna_be_green8 Avatar

    Sometimes requests like these are because the buyer knows they won’t have the extra cash after the closing.

    If they make a real offer with this request you can counter to raise the price of the home by the cost to have it painted.

  54. ButterflyFeet-18 Avatar

    no you are not the AH,, you’ve made a lot of concessions already, you gave them the washer and dryer free ( what is repl cost?

    unless you’re desperate to sell house, i’d stick to my guns…

  55. JohnCalvinSmith Avatar

    I thought this was a sellers market?

  56. Dabades Avatar

    YTA if you say yes. The only acceptable answer is,

    ”No to EVERYTHING, Good Day.”

  57. psilocydonia Avatar

    Are you going to agree to partner swap next when they bring it up? Goddamn, learn to say “no” already.

  58. ButterflyFeet-18 Avatar

    I’ve been a realtor before, it’s the realtors job to bring these requests to the buyer.it doesn’t mean the realtor agrees. even if the realtor agreed , it’s still your decision.

    personally, if it were my home, I’d initially feel it’s too much of a hassle plus, plus,

    if you agree. to the closing costs and free. washer and dryer, you’ve already given them at least $5 grand or more..they’re trying to get as much as they can off you.

    let them know, what you’ve already give. them( they know) and say the buck stops here…

  59. HeartAccording5241 Avatar

    Move on from them and stop agreeing to things that screw you out of money

  60. MsPooka Avatar

    This is not an AITAH question at all. I’d never agree to paint the house for them. At best they could get a paint allowance. But if they haven’t even signed why would you paint your house for them? I would say this is the final offer and give them 48 hours or the deal goes away. Be prepared for them to walk. Honestly, if the wife hates your house there’s a good chance she’d still be looking and might flake on closing day. It’s not worth the headache dealing with these people. But NTA.

  61. Ok-Wonder851 Avatar

    Nobody can answer this based on the details provided. That’s what your realtor should be helping with. How desperate are you to sell? What’s the market like in your area? Did the offer they put in come at full asking price? Was the offer more than you expected? Giving 3k for painting after paying closing costs and appliances seems like a lot, but if they overpaid for the house, then it doesn’t matter, it’s the equivalent of them offering you less. Did you get offers from other people?

    Ultimately the easy way is to calculate all the concessions you made and ask yourself if they had offered that number on the purchase price, would you have accepted? If the answer is yes, then who cares if it’s painting or windows or appliances, the numbers still work. If you aren’t sure, and you don’t need to sell, then don’t

  62. Fluid_Door7148 Avatar

    put it back on the market and find a new buyer

  63. mcmurrml Avatar

    Hell no. The woman will never be satisfied. Tell them take it or leave it. After you buy it repaint it yourself.

  64. TrustSweet Avatar

    NTA. If she and her husband buy the house then she can paint it any color she wants.

  65. Creepy_Radio_3084 Avatar

    Who is the realtor working on behalf of? Cos it sure ain’t you.

    She doesn’t like the house, but he does. By making unreasonable (and frankly ridiculous requests), she is trying to engineer the situation so the sale falls through and it’s not her fault, rather than having an argument with her DH and telling him she doesn’t want the house. Smart on her part, but puts you smack in the middle of it.

    Just withdraw, tell them no, let them move on to something else, consider getting a better realtor (because this one isn’t doing you any favours).

    NTA

  66. mindin_mine Avatar

    NOPE! You’ve already made many costly concessions. If they want the house, they want it like it is, with the appliances and the closing costs.

    You’re in this to make money from the sale – not to keep cutting away at your earnings.

  67. teresajs Avatar

    NTA

    Say no.  Continue to say no.  You’ve already offered thousadns of dollars in concessions.  Stop playing nice.  

  68. ProfPazuzu Avatar

    It’s all a negotiation. They demand, you respond with what you are willing to do. It’s not about being nice or an AH.