Disclosing Noisy Neighbors

“I AM GETTING READY TO PUT MY HOUSE ON THE MARKET IN THE COMING SUMMER MONTHS. I HAVE SOMEWHAT NOISY NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR, ALTHOUGH I WOULDN’T CONSIDER THEM TOO OUT OF CONTROL. AM I REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE THIS TO POTENTIAL BUYERS?”

A few years ago, a “don’t-tell-if-they-don’t-ask” policy was the norm concerning the disclosure of noisy neighbors. Nowadays, though, many states have strict disclosure laws requiring sellers to inform potential buyers about certain aspects of a home. These laws range from disclosing the prospect of nearby future development to commercial aircraft flight patterns—and, in some cases, noisy neighbors. Since the laws vary widely from state to state, it’s best to ask your Realtor what you need to disclose. If your state does have a law requiring you to disclose the presence of noisy neighbors, however, it doesn’t mean that you have to tell every person who walks through your front door during an open house (although a good buyer’s agent will ask on behalf of a potential buyer). Most disclosure laws require the seller to let a buyer know about such issues once a buyer shows interest in a house or an offer is made. Once again, your Realtor—or else a real estate attorney—can help you sort through the language and provisions of the disclosure laws that may pertain to your situation.  ∆