Can I Still Make a Claim for Real Estate Misrepresentations If I didn’t Get a Home Inspection?
My house has defects, but I did not have it inspected before buying. Now what? Murdock Law recommends that all home buyers have a home inspection completed before purchasing a home. A home inspection can help identify defects that may prove costly to repair. Some buyers; however, choose to make offers without inspection contingencies to […]
Can I Cancel My Airbnb Due to COVID-19 Without Penalties?
Companies across the country are developing policies in response to the novel COVID-19 virus. Airbnb is no different. The ripple effect of bar and restaurant closings, hotel and resort closings, and “Stay At Home” orders across the country has led to blanket trip cancellations during the popular spring travel season. Airbnb’s cancellation policy in response […]
Can I Sue My Home Inspector If He Missed A Defect?
Claims Against Home Inspectors Home buyers often (and should) insist on a home inspection before they will agree to purchase a home. This makes sense because inspectors have expertise in areas many buyers are unfamiliar with. Finding defects upon move-in can be frustrating and costly, especially when the home inspector reports that the home was […]
Wisconsin Changes to The Real Estate Condition Report Disclosure Form
Recently, the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) called upon the Wisconsin state legislature to update and improve seller disclosure reports. During the 2017-18 legislative session, the state successfully passed disclosure requirement improvements. Most notably, after July 1, 2018, a new version of the Real Estate Condition Report (RECR) is available. Previously, the WRA provided a two-page […]
Financing Contingency – What Should Buyers Know?
The standard offer to purchase forms for residential property in Wisconsin (Form WB-11 and Addendum A) contain several contingencies: financing, appraisal, closing of buyer’s property, and inspection. Each of these give the buyer different rights as it relates to the offer. In this post we’ll talk about the financing contingency. Most residential offers to purchase […]
What Do I Need To Disclose When Selling My Home?
Sellers want to make their home as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Wisconsin law requires that sellers disclose certain flaws to prospective buyers. Knowing what flaws a seller must disclose can be tricky. What about that old drafty window or the window whose frame you think is starting to rot? Or those cracks you […]
Easement Disputes, Property Boundaries, Neighbors Using Your Land?
Land disputes between neighbors can be common. Disputes can arise when landowners build a new fence, alter a driveway, or add landscaping. Neighbors also sometimes disagree about lot lines or the location, size, or use of easements. Settling easement disputes quickly is in your best interest because easements can significantly affect property rights and the […]
How Do I Get a Zoning Variance In Wisconsin?
What Is a Zoning Variance? Landowners may need a zoning variance for a variety of reasons. A variance may be necessary to comply with setback requirements on an oddly shaped lot, to build a new structure or addition, or construct a deck or patio. Variances may also be required if a property owner’s use of […]
Do I have to get a Permit if my Short-Term Rental is “Grandfathered In”?
In response to a new Wisconsin state law that prohibits municipalities from banning short-term rentals, some municipalities are requiring permits. Some municipalities are charging obscenely expensive—perhaps unconstitutional?—permit fees. Yet, many property owners used their properties for short-term rentals before any permit regulations passed. Can the municipality require a property owner to obtain a permit to […]
What to do when the Seller Does Not Disclose a Defect
Purchasing a new property is exciting. Problems discovered after purchasing a new property are not. Issues that arise as the closing date approaches, on your closing date, or after purchase are extremely frustrating. Undisclosed defects or problems your new home such as basement leaks, mold, or rotting wood can be extremely expensive to repair. A […]
Wisconsin Vacation Home Rentals Get a Boost from a New State Law
Wisconsin is a popular destination for tourists. With coastlines on two Great Lakes, rolling hills dotted with farms, expansive forests offering the unforgettable smell of pine, and many cultural attractions in its two largest cities—Milwaukee and Madison—tourists find plenty of reasons to escape to Wisconsin. After settling on a destination, the next question for most […]
Walworth County Short-Term Rentals
Murdock Law has been fighting to protect Walworth County Property Owners’ right to use their vacation homes for short-term rentals. About Walworth County Vacation Rentals Walworth County and Lake Geneva were once a popular tourist retreat for Chicago barons who made their fortunes in lumber, cattle, oil, steel, cement, manufacturing, and durable goods. In fact, the […]