If you’re the type of person who wants to know what happened in a house before you buy it, especially if there has been a death, listen up!
Does the seller have to disclose if there’s been a death in the home in Nevada? The short answer is. . . no. Here’s more info so you can be informed during your next home purchase.
The Confidentiality Law
Each state is different in regards to whether they have to disclose a death in the home.
In Nevada, according to NRS 40.770, deaths (including homicide or suicide) do not need to be disclosed unless the death resulted from a condition of the property itself.
Be sure to check out NRS 40.770 to see what other information does not need to be disclosed when purchasing a home.
Be sure to ask your real estate agent if this is a concern of yours to ensure you are receiving all the information you need to make an informed decision on your purchase.
Is My Agent Lying to Me?
If you ask an agent if someone died in a home you are looking at, are told “no”, but then later find out that someone did, in fact, die in the home – that doesn’t mean your agent lied to you.
If you ask your agent, they should be disclosing that information up-front to you, but are not obligated to disclose the death unless they are asked directly.
Keep in mind that if you find out later on, even after asking your agent, it may not be something that was disclosed to them by the seller. Unless it was public record, it’s unlikely the agent would have known unless the seller disclosed that information with them directly.
What to Ask About a Death in the Home
If you discover that a death in the home was fairly recent, be sure to ask about what remediation steps were taken to ensure the home is safe to live in. Depending on how the death occurred, there may have been significant biohazards that needed to be addressed before the home could be lived-in again.
Do Your Own Research
If you’re concerned someone may have died in the home you’re looking to purchase, or even in your existing home, you can look it up at DiedInHouse.com.
