Portland Real Estate Questions: What is an "AS IS" Provision?

In Georgia our contracts have two choices... "as is" and "due diligence"  Of course I always advise buyer clients (with the exception of investors with cash who want to close super fast) to ask for 10 to 14 days of due diligence to get their inspections done.  Same goes as in your area... we are not prevented from "asking" for repairs, but sellers have no obligation to repair, buyers may walk and be refunded earnest money if repairs cannot be negotiated to both parties satisfaction.  I think you've inspired a post about our "due diligence" period Carla. 

I am continually amazed at how simple, declarative sentences can be so 'misunderstood". Should it take three pages of legal jargon to explain "as is"?

Excellent description of 'as is' Carla.  Great FAQ!

That hyphenated phrase can scare off a lot of buyers. As you mention, repairs can still be negotiated. In all transactions, it's in the buyers interest to inspect the property to their satisfaction regardless if it is "as-is."

Carla, great explanation for the AS IS condition of some properties for sale!    At least the buyers can do an inspection to know what to expect from AS IS!

Carla, very good.  Our "As is" contracts in Florida have a "property inspection and right to cancel" clause which I make buyers and sellers read and acknowledge from start to finish.  And yes, you do have to ask people to pay attention when you over these things even when they are bored with the details or have places to go... a little time spent up front is a good investment.

Carla, there are so many pitfalls with the verbiage in a real estate contract, it's really great that you spend so much time with clients and explain THOROUGHLY.
I always ALWAYS suggest an inspection....even when someone does their own remodeling, I STILL suggest it, because you can possibly (and legally)  use that inspection later as an impetus to rescind the offer.

Carla, our boilder plate contracts were recently changed to incorporate an as is provision, but allowing for inspections and repair requests.  I think it's fair to say that if a seller has disclosed any sort of funkiness, it's bad form for the buyer to come back after the inspection with a request to fix it.  But when it hasn't been disclosed, it's pretty fair game.  So far, it seems to be resulting in many more inspection repair rerquests than the old system, whch required the systems and appliances to convey in working order.