Question:
“If a house is advertised ‘as is,’ does that mean that the house has problems? And can you still inspect it and ask for something to be fixed?”
Answer:
Great questions. Homes are typically advertised “As Is” for three different but related reasons:
First, the home may indeed have problems, ranging from ugly cosmetics to a damaged foundation. The seller typically makes the problems known and/or they’re obvious. That way the seller hopes to have those items factored into the original price negotiations and not discount the price later after inspections.
Second, the home may have no serious known problems. But the seller thinks that merely saying “As Is” magically means the buyer will be OK with any defects they later discover. This unwise approach usually results in a lower price and/or the buyer asking for repairs anyway.
Third, the seller may be an estate, or a bank selling a foreclosure. Such sellers almost never make repairs, no matter the issue, so they’re letting you know up front.
Regarding whether you can still ask for repairs on a home sold “As Is,” you should be able to do so. I’ve never heard of a contract that prohibits you from at least asking.
