While sellers have always been required to disclose material facts, the Form 17 has been required by law (RCW 64.06. 020) since January 1, 1995. It has undergone ten revisions since its inception, the last of which went into effect in 2021.
Almost every U.S. state has passed laws mandating that sellers give buyers specific information about what structural and other features the house contains, and their condition. In some cases, the brokers must speak up about hidden conditions, too.
The state does not require disclosure of any deaths, including murders or suicide. Do you have to report a death in your home while selling real estate in Washington?
While sellers have always been required to disclose material facts, the Form 17 has been required by law (RCW 64.06. 020) since January 1, 1995. It has undergone ten revisions since its inception, the last of which went into effect in 2021.
Sellers must fill out either an unimproved or improved residential real estate disclosure form, which covers various topics about the property's condition. This comprehensive form asks about the state of the home's electrical, plumbing, heating and other systems.
Sellers may be required to disclose a list of all of the major repairs made in various areas of the property. Buyers will want to know of any past problems. They'll want to know if an issue's been fixed and how it was fixed, if it requires ongoing maintenance or if it has the potential to cause problems in the future.
What You Need to Know about the Washington State Seller Property Disclosure – Form 17. Washington State requires sellers of residential real property to thoroughly disclose material facts on a form called the Residential Real Property Disclosure Statement (often referred to as Form 17).
Sellers must complete a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), in which they disclose known defects and other pertinent information about the property. Failure to disclose these material facts can lead to legal liability.