If buying or selling a home in Colorado is in your future, you're likely well versed the entire process from the initial offer to closing. But are you aware that disclosing a death in the home may be required? Here's what you need to know.
Property Disclosure Documents
No matter how perfect a house looks on the outside, there is often property information a buyer needs to disclose before the sale can go through. Property disclosure documents reveal known structural issues, neighborhood nuisances, hazards, HOA details, water damage, notable repairs made to the home and death in the home.
Rules for reporting a death in the home vary by state, and variations in rules may include:
- Timeframe: When the death occurred.
- How the person passed away: If the death occurred naturally versus due to negligence on the property.
- Hauntings: If the seller has knowledge that the property is being haunted by the dead.
So what are the rules in Colorado? Here are the details:
On AtHomeColorado.com, Duane Duggan, a Realtor for RE/MAX of Boulder in Colorado, explains:
Bottom line, according to the legislation, such information [murder or suicide occurring on the property] does not have to be disclosed. But can it be disclosed? Yes, it can. This is a discussion that needs to happen between the seller, real estate broker and a real estate attorney.
If you're buying a home in Colorado and would like to research this information on your own, DiedinHouse.com promises to pull these records for you.
For a state by state guide on disclosure laws we recommend visiting this resource on Nolo.com.
Remediating After a Death in a Home
If a death recently occurred in the home you're hoping to purchase, there may have been biohazards from bloodborne pathogens that required remediation. Consider asking the seller how the death was remediated to ensure proper steps were taken. Remediation processes may vary depending on the location of the death, how the death occurred, types of flooring, and if the death was undiscovered for days or weeks.
Bio-One technicians are trained and equipped to properly disinfect biohazards from bloodborne pathogens, and we ensure safe biohazard material handling and disposal. Once the entire area is cleaned of blood and body fluids, we also help property owners restore the location to its pre-incident state.
If you are selling a home in Colorado and need a biohazard remediated or want to ensure remediation was done correctly, give our Bio-One team a call: 720-365-2393. Our experts not only contain and disinfect the dangerous biological materials, we carry out our work in a caring and private manner.
