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Termite damage isn’t always a deal breaker when buying a house, but don’t dismiss it. If that’s the case, you should hire a professional termite inspection to understand the extent of the damage, type of termite, state of repairs, and whether the infestation is gone.

If the termites are gone and the current owners repaired the damage, you might want to proceed. You may even be able to use the damage as a bargaining point. However, don’t forget that home insurance policies often don’t cover termite treatment or repairs and active infestations are tricky to shift.

In most cases, no, a seller cannot negotiate after an appraisal if they signed an offer agreement. The only exception would be if there was a contingency in the offer that stated that the offer acceptance was contingent on the appraisal amount. If that’s the case, the seller can negotiate a higher sale price to match the appraised amount. If the appraised amount comes in below the sale price, both sides have to agree to negotiate, but there may be no other option since the buyer’s lender might not approve the higher amount.

If a home's appraised value comes in lower than the offer price, it can create complications with financing. Lenders typically won't issue a loan for more than the property's market value, as this can push the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio too high and may prevent the loan from being approved. Your options depend on whether your purchase agreement includes an appraisal contingency. If there is no contingency, both parties may be locked into the deal, meaning the buyer pays more than the appraised value. If a contingency exists, the buyer can usually renegotiate the price or withdraw from the deal. If a buyer still wishes to proceed, they can try to negotiate a lower price, increase their down payment to cover the difference, or get a second appraisal.

Installing a new home theater or upgrading your current one will likely add value to your home, as many prospective buyers will consider it an exciting bonus feature. However, the value of a home theater is subjective and depends on the buyer, so there’s no guarantee that it’ll increase your home sale value. Keep in mind that home theaters typically have a return on investment rate of about 65%.