If you have owned your home for many years and are ready to sell, you may wonder what you must tell a buyer. Washington law requires every seller to complete a Seller Disclosure Statement, known as Form 17. The form does not call for professional inspections, but it does require honest answers about problems you already know. Failing to disclose those conditions, even by mistake, can lead a buyer to accuse you of hiding defects and pursue compensation.
Common issues you must disclose
When you complete Form 17, you must be specific about what you know about your property. Buyers often expect clear answers in these areas:
- Structural issues: Cracks that widen across basement walls, roof sections patched more than once or uneven floors that signal settling over time
- Water damage or leaks: A sump pump that runs every winter, stains from a past pipe burst or visible mildew along ceilings or windowsills
- Systems: A furnace that fails to heat the entire home, a circuit breaker that trips under normal use or plumbing that backs up despite repeated repairs
- Environmental hazards: Attic insulation that contains asbestos, peeling paint in an older home that may contain lead or soil contaminated from past chemical treatments
- Legal issues: A neighbor’s fence extending over the property line, a recorded easement granting access across your lot or covenants that limit additions or remodeling
These disclosures are not optional. You are not required to open walls or test systems, but you must report any condition you already know about. If you omit or misstate information, a buyer may cancel the agreement before closing or pursue remedies afterward. That can turn a planned sale into a costly dispute.
Transparency protects you in the long run
Washington’s disclosure rules protect both sellers and buyers. When you complete Form 17 carefully and keep records of repairs or professional evaluations, you lower the risk of a buyer claiming you concealed problems. Some sellers also have an attorney review the form to ensure nothing important gets missed. These steps show transparency, safeguard your assets and let you close the sale without future disputes hanging over you.
