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Buying the as-is homeIf you’re a regular browser of real estate listings, you’ve no doubt seen the words ‘being sold as-is”. Today, we’ll reveal the mystery of the “as is” home, and tell you the implications for Buyers and Sellers.

In a nutshell: when a home is being sold “as is”, it means that the Seller is not making any representations or warranties (in other words, guarantees) about the condition of the property.

Sound scary? Well, sometimes it is. An “as-is” home might not have working appliances; there may be rats nesting in the basement, the electricity might not work, and mountains of mould might be behind the walls. The Seller who has decided to sell their home “as is” is selling it in the condition it’s in: they aren’t guaranteeing anything works or conforms to building codes, and they aren’t prepared to fix any deficiencies. What you see is what you get – and what you don’t see, well, you get that too.

Of course, an “as is” home doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with the property. It could simply mean that the property is being sold by a bank or municipality or by a hands-off investor who is not familiar enough with the property to guarantee its condition.

Our advice to you:

Buying the “as is” home:

  • Go in with your eyes WIDE OPEN. The Seller isn’t guaranteeing anything, so be prepared for everything. 
  • Get a home inspection by a qualified inspector (and no, your uncle who “knows about these things” won’t suffice).
  • Have lots of Cover Your A$$ Money. Some of what’s going on in the “as is” home might need to be fixed immediately and may even impact your ability to get home insurance. Make sure you have a generous budget for unexpected fixes.
  • Make sure you understand what is involved in buying a fixer-upper. Expect renovations to cost 2X as much as you anticipate and take 3X the estimated time. Talk to someone who’s been through it.
  • Recognize that your ability to sue the Seller for deficiencies you discover is extremely limited (if at all). An “as is” home can be a risky undertaking.

Selling the “as is” home:

  • Don’t bother with a pre-listing home inspection. While we often recommend getting a home inspection before you list your property (so you know what to fix and expect in advance and can make the report available to potential Buyers), if your home needs a lot of work and you’re selling it “as is”, save the $500. Because you aren’t guaranteeing anything, there’s no need to be fully informed about the house – and it could work against you if the inspection uncovers something you have to disclose. 
  • Understand that the pool of Buyers for your home is smaller. First-time buyers will likely be spooked away by the “as is” home, as will people looking for a home they can just move into. If your home is in rough condition, recognize that your ideal Buyer is likely a contractor or is experienced in renovations. But don’t worry, there are plenty of Buyers out there looking for fixer-uppers.
  • An “as-is” home doesn’t necessarily remove your obligations to make normal disclosures that could affect the decision to purchase. So yes, if someone was murdered in the home or there’s a buried oil tank in the yard, you’ll probably still need to disclose that (check with your agent and real estate lawyer if you aren’t sure what to disclose).

Buying or selling the “as is” home certainly comes with challenges, so make sure that the agent you choose to represent you is fully versed in what it means.

 

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