Question: This is in response to recent comments on my columns about what it means to sell “as-is.”
Answer: Selling a property “as-is” in Northern Virginia carries a technical definition as stated in the contract and an intended purpose that should be discussed between the buyer and seller.
Technical/Contractual Definition
In Northern Virginia’s Contingencies/Clauses Addendum you’ll find a section for selling “as-is” which contains the following terms that can be individually selected for the contract:
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The seller will not clean or remove debris. The standard is for the property to be free of trash/debris and broom clean.
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The seller is not responsible for addressing any wood-destroying insect/termite issues. The standard agreement requires the seller to pay for any damage from wood-destroying insects.
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The seller is not required to fix any Homeowners Association violations related to the physical condition of the property.
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The seller is not responsible for providing working smoke detectors.
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The seller is not responsible for compliance with notices of violation from local authorities.
Implied Definition
When you market a property as-is, you are implying that you will not negotiate with the buyer to fix anything and the buyer should be prepared to take on the full risk of the property in its current condition. Generally, this means a buyer will agree to take the property in the condition it is in at the time of offer and that the contract is not contingent on a home inspection (the buyer withdraws the right to negotiate or void based on home inspection results).
However, you may consider accepting a short pass/fail inspection contingency whereby the buyer does not have a right to negotiate credits or fixes but does have the right to void the contract if they find any major problems with the home during the inspection.
Who Uses As-Is?
It is common to see estate sales and homes that will be targeted by investors (tear-downs or flips) being sold as-is. In the case of many estate sales, the family member(s) who inherited the property may not live nearby, know anything about the condition of its systems, or want to be bothered by negotiations after a deal has been made. It doesn’t necessarily mean the property has problems.
Understand Your Choice
As a seller, you want to make sure you understand the message you’re sending and the buyers you’re targeting when you market a home as-is. You also need to be realistic about how this will impact the sale price (discounted). As a buyer, you want to make sure you understand why a home is being sold as-is, what the seller’s contractual and implied expectations are, and be prepared to handle the risks associated with buying as-is.
