Q: Sellers responsibility, post sale

We receive many questions about what seller’s responsibility are after an offer has been accepted & before the home closes. One such question is whether the seller needs to mow the lawn prior to close.

Recently, the Washington Realtors Hotline Attorney, Annie Fitzsimmons, answered the question about whether a seller should maintain the lawn prior to closing. She wrote “The lawn is part of the "Property" & seller has an obligation to maintain the lawn along with all the rest of the Property, until seller tenders possession to buyer. If the seller fails to maintain the lawn, the seller will likely be in breach...” Annie added “It is important to remember, however, that just because a party is in breach, it does not necessarily follow that the other party is entitled to relief or if the other party is entitled to relief, it may not be significant relief.” She finished her response with “All of this is to say that seller is obligated to maintain the entire "Property" through buyer's possession date. The lawn is not excepted from this requirement. Rather, the lawn is part of the "Property". Seller's obligation to maintain is clear & unambiguous.”

In the end, we encourage our seller clients to leave the home in a condition that they are proud to give to the new owners.

If you have any questions that you would like answered, please reach out!