Unreasonable buyer requests?
I'm currently under contract selling my house FSBO and would love input from other sellers who have dealt with inspection negotiations.
The buyers offered a quick 2-week close, which was a big reason I accepted their offer even though they requested $10k in seller concessions (I countered by increasing the purchase price $5k).
They’ve now completed inspections and are saying the HVAC inspector could not properly access the furnace/air handler because it’s located in the attic. The attic access is an existing scuttle opening located in a bedroom closet that requires ladder be brought in. The house has been this way for 25 years.
The buyers are now requesting that I add a completely new attic access with pull-down ladder/stairs from a hallway area somewhere else in the house so future inspections, maintenance, and repairs are easier.
This feels very excessive to me because:
nothing is broken, HVAC works, there already IS attic access. This seems more like a convenience/preference upgrade than an actual repair.
They are also already past their due diligence period.
The buyer’s agent says she is sending over an amendment and calling this a "requirement.”
If you were the seller, how would you handle this? Would you:
refuse entirely,
offer a small credit instead,
negotiate,
or consider this a reasonable seller responsibility?