Home sellers’ guide in filling out property disclosures in Washington.
If you’re wondering what to disclose to your Washington home’s potential buyers, the short answer is nearly everything. Complete and honest disclosure is essential in informing your buyers of the home’s condition, and this will also protect you from a potential lawsuit in the future. That’s why I’m sharing four tips to make sure you cover your legal bases during disclosure:
1. Full disclosure. Full disclosure is vital in selling your home. The more you disclose, the better off you’ll be. If something has happened to your house, even if you’ve already addressed it, you need to disclose it. By doing this, you’re protecting yourself from potential future issues. This approach ensures you are selling your house with what I call full disclosure.
2. Fill out the seller disclosure form. If you are thinking of selling your house, you will need to fill out a seller disclosure form. In Washington specifically, this form is six pages long and requires you to answer with “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.” Make sure to disclose everything. Additionally, you can take it a step further by providing even more detailed information.
“The more you disclose, the better off you’ll be.”
3. Hire a professional home inspector. To make the process easier, you can hire a home inspector to analyze your home, and they will provide you with a detailed 50 to 60-page report. Sellers are not obligated to conduct an inspection report since Washington’s policies require buyers to do this instead. But it will be beneficial for you to do it on your own and have it done in advance. This way, you can either address any issues or fully disclose them. If the buyer prefers to have their own independent inspection, it will likely align with your report. So, the more you know and share with potential buyers, the better your chances of securing your desired price before putting your house on the market.
4. Property condition report. Another step you can take to ensure full property disclosure for your home sale is to complete a property condition report. This report covers about 100 items in your house. You can then use the checklist to evaluate each item — if it’s broken or in need of replacement, enhancement or repair. By addressing these issues in advance, you will have a cleaner report.
If you’re considering selling your home, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me today by phone by calling 425-652-0130 or send an email to [email protected]. You may also visit our website at www.SteelRealtyGroup.com for more information.