Originally Posted by
Don Norman
This typically happens when a handyman or homeowner have mad the repair.
Therein lies a large problem with real estate sales in some states.
I don't know about your state, but in Florida, the homeowner or handyman *ARE NOT ALLOWED* to make repairs.
I will clarify that: *THE HOME OWNER* is not allowed to make repairs; *THE HANDYMAN* must be licensed as a handyman (if their city/county has such a license, otherwise they are not properly licensed to make repairs either) and then are only allowed to make minor non-structural, non-electrical, non-HVAC, non-roofing, non-plumbing, non-whateverislicensed types or repairs.
Let's see, that would be ... painting and caulking!
In Florida, a homeowner is allowed to do almost anything to their own home (with appropriate permits and inspections, of course) *UNLESS* ... (drum roll) ... the home is offered for sale or lease *WITHIN ONE YEAR* of making those repairs, in which case they are now operating as "unlicensed contractors" and can be so charged (which comes with up to a $5,000 fine and up to one year in jail, which also applies to anyone aiding and abetting that action, i.e., real estate agents).
You can do what you want to *YOUR* home, but if you offer it for sale or lease, the intent is that you are a contractor doing it for the purchaser/tenant ... not yourself.
Check you your state's contractor licensing law and see what it covers.
Any repair made by other than an appropriately licensed contractor is effectively 'not made' and cannot be counted toward the contractual obligation of the seller toward fulfilling their contract with the buyer.