Washington State Home Inspection Rules—Did You Know?

Home inspections can be nerve-wracking for both buyers and sellers, but Washington State’s laws might surprise you!

🔹 Buyers usually want to share what they found in an inspection—whether to justify a request or out of a sense of fairness. But here’s the catch: they can’t!

🔹 Why? If a seller receives an inspection report, they are legally required to disclose that information to future buyers. To avoid this, Washington’s contracts require written permission from the seller before any details can be shared. Otherwise, the buyer waives their contingency with no explanation.

🔹 This is why many buyers simply ask for a closing credit without specifying why—it’s not a trick, just how the law works! For sellers, this can be frustrating, but a skilled agent can help navigate these negotiations so everyone feels confident in the process.

🔹 The exception? If a buyer requests a specific repair, they can name the item, but they can’t provide photos or inspection details unless the seller gives permission.

One of my fellow Windermere colleagues, Heather Maddox, shared this in a recent post, and the topic sparked so much interest that I wanted to keep the conversation going!

What are your thoughts? Drop them below!