Stop! Don't Sue!
Most homes for sale in Montpelier and Barre come complete with what's called a Property Information Report. That's the six page document that gives the seller the opportunity to say what they know about the place. Has the basement flooded? Has the boiler been replaced? How old is the roof?
This does a couple things. First, it lets the seller have a public confession that the house is not, in fact, perfect. Second, it lets buyers become aware of the imperfections before they even look at a property, and certainly before they make an offer. The result should be that buyers make offers based on as much information as possible. Then, they don't have to reopen negotiation after a home inspection.
As for the headline, a properly filled out Property Information Report is a tidy little piece of insurance for a seller. Buyers sign a document saying they have received the document (as part of the offer paperwork). So when the basement leaks two weeks after the closing, the buyers can look back and see that yes, the basement has leaked in the past. And no, they're probably not going to win a lawsuit against the seller.
It's better to know more.
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