Common and Avoidable Reasons for Closing Delays – Part 2 of 6
Are you trying to buy or sell a home? Sometimes, closing the sale doesn’t happen as quickly as you hope. In this second blog of our special series, we’ll talk about Conservation Commission issues—what they are, how they can slow things down, and how you can avoid them!
What are Conservation Commission Issues?
Conservation Commissions are local groups that protect nature—like wetlands, forests, and rivers—in your town. They make sure property owners follow rules that keep these areas safe when building or making changes to land. Sometimes, they issue special orders, called “Orders of Conditions,” to tell people what they can and can’t do on their property.
Why Can Conservation Issues Cause Delays?
There are a few big reasons why dealing with Conservation Commissions can hold up your home sale:
Unresolved Violations: Sometimes, past owners did work near wetlands or protected land without finishing what was required. If this happens, buyers or sellers could find out there are old orders or even violations that must be fixed before the sale goes through
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Significant Time and Cost: Fixing these problems can take a lot of time and money. Some issues might only be discovered because an agent, lawyer, or buyer asks the right questions, or checks the official records.
Hidden Problems: Not all violations are obvious. For example, a recent violation notice might have been sent by email and wouldn’t show up in regular searches—unless you ask the Conservation Commission directly
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How Can You Avoid Delays?
Here’s what you should do if you’re selling your house:
Ask if you know about any Conservation Commission problems or unfinished Orders of Conditions.
Check the Registry of Deeds for any open issues about your property—even from years ago.
Fix any known problems, or make sure buyers know about them before listing.
And if you’re buying:
Always ask about Conservation Commission issues.
Do your own record check at the Registry of Deeds.
Contact the Conservation Commission yourself to ask about any pending or past notices about the property.
By being honest and checking ahead of time, you can avoid surprises and help your sale move smoothly!
Keep reading our series to learn about other common and avoidable reasons for closing delays.
Don’t miss the next parts—become a more prepared seller!
Best, Heath
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