I am working with a family that is relocating from the East Coast and looking for a home in the North Shore. Today I sent them a new listing that had "Extensive Waterproofing" listed in the remarks section of the listing.
They emailed me and asked if that is needed often and are there "extensive" water issues here.
That made me think that perhaps that is not the best advertising. Sure, the work has been done and supposedly the buyer can rest easy, but I wonder about stating the fact upfront. Sellers are required by law to complete the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Report. Look at question #2:
If the seller answers the question with a yes there is room at the bottom of the form for explanation. If extensive waterproofing was done, tell us there and provide the receipts. And make sure that mold, if any, was remediated.
The Chicago North Shore villages have certain areas that are designated flood zones by the federal government. But I will be the first to tell you that I have listed homes in the middle of the flood zone and the sellers never had a drop of water. Conversely, I have owned three homes none of which were in the flood zone, yet all three have had various amounts of basement leakage.
Buyers new to this area must be educated in flooding and water issues, particularly in their basements and yards. Winnetka is currently in the throes of beginning a large stormwater tunnel project that will alleviate the worst of the flooding in the affected areas.
Sellers must be forthright in disclosing defects in their homes, to the extent that they know them. Completing this form is mandatory and does give the prospective buyer important insight into the home.
My opinion is that it's not necessary, perhaps it's overkill, to proclaim and advertise at the outset that this work has been done. A buyer working with a good real estate broker will perform their due diligence and know what problems exist. Why taint a home's reputation before stepping over the threshold?
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