The timing usually follows the inspection condition period, typically within the first week or two after an offer is accepted, once the buyer's inspector has documented a specific issue. A request that shows up before an inspection, with no documented reason, is a weaker negotiating position and worth pushing back on.
New listings were up 12.3 percent year-over-year in August 2026, giving buyers more to choose from and more leverage to ask. That does not mean every request should be granted, only that sellers should expect to see more of them than in a tighter market.
Joel Dyck tells you upfront which concession requests are reasonable given the inspection findings and which are just a negotiating tactic. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.