Re: View

We are surrounded by beauty in the Pacific Northwest. The mountaintops, ocean and lake views, and abundant greenery seemed like a long-held secret. The secret is out and many buyers want a view. Who could blame them? What often comes with a view is the fact that much of Seattle is built on hills, surrounded by water. We live in a dense, wet place and reviewing the Seller Disclosure Statement/Form 17 is more important than ever.

 

What is it? The form 17/Seller Disclosure Statement is document that asks the seller a variety of questions about the characteristics of the home. There are questions about the deed, electrical, a pest inspection, and so much more. There are also questions about leaking and the foundation.

 

In the greater Seattle area alone, two homes have made the news for sliding off of their foundations. One due to a landslide in the Seattle area (link here) and another suspected to have been the victim of a water main break in Bellevue (link here). Scary, very unfortunate, and sometimes tragic. If you’re offering on a home on a steep Seattle hill it is more important than ever to:

 

• Review the Seller Disclosure Statement/Form 17
• Conduct a full inspection with a licensed inspector
• Conduct a foundation inspection and/or feasibility study
• Check to see if the home (or your current home) is in a landslide Area on the DNR's site HERE

Some buyers opt for vacant land outside of the Greater Seattle area to build on. On a slope or not, be sure to do a feasibility study. If you’re already in the Greater Seattle area and looking for a service to inspect, retrofit, or repair your foundation, I’m happy to help connect you with a professional in my network. Please reach out with any questions and stay safe!

 

Interested in the historic context of the 7 Hills of Seattle? Check out this blog on History Link!