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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. ∆ |
