QUESTION:  As a cooperating broker, I’m tired of chasing listing brokers for sales disclosures.   How early in a transaction is a seller legally required to provide the buyer with a completed sales disclosure?

ANSWER:   Rhode Island law requires a seller to provide a written disclosure of deficient conditions in the property to the buyer before the seller signs an offer, purchase and sales agreement or other “agreement to transfer real estate.” The listing broker also has a legal duty. 

It is a violation of state law for a real estate licensee to “communicate” the offer of the buyer until  the buyer has received a copy of the written disclosure and signed a written receipt of the disclosure.”

Questions?  Please contact the RIAR Legal Department at 401-432-6945 or email [email protected].