Edgewood, WA Real Estate Blog

I’m representing a buyer on a transaction.  The seller’s agent dutifully delivered a copy of the required property disclosure form. But it’s not the current form. Now what?

Since the WA state legislature specifies the exact form of the property disclosure (commonly known in NWMLS land as the form 17), the clock on the buyer’s right to rescind their purchase and sale agreement based upon review of the form 17 will not start running. (Of course the regular disclaimers apply: I’m not providing legal advice, get your own appropriate legal counsel, etc., etc. )

According the RCW’s, a buyer may rescind their purchase agreement by providing written notice within 3 business days of receipt of the property disclosure form (without a reason).  Until the seller provides a “valid” form 17, the 3 business day clock doesn’t start.  This means a buyer would have legal basis to “get out” of a transaction… all the way up to closing if the seller fails to act.