Who is responsible for providing a buyer with information about property defects in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the responsibility for providing a buyer with information about property defects primarily rests with the seller. This obligation is part of the state's disclosure laws, which require sellers to inform potential buyers about known material defects in the property. The seller must complete a Seller's Disclosure Statement that details any issues that could affect the property's value or desirability, such as structural problems, mold, or past flooding, among others.

While real estate agents play a vital role in the transaction and may assist in conveying this information, their primary duty is to facilitate the sale and represent either the buyer's or seller's interests. Their reliance on the seller to provide accurate information about property defects is critical; they are not legally obligated to investigate every claim made by the seller.

Buyers themselves have the responsibility to perform due diligence, such as hiring inspectors or conducting research about a property. However, they cannot typically be expected to know about defects that the seller is obligated to disclose, emphasizing the seller's central role.

The appraiser’s function relates to assessing the property's value rather than investigating its condition for defects, hence they are not responsible for providing defect information to buyers. Overall, the seller's obligation is established by Pennsylvania's real estate laws aimed at ensuring transparency in property transactions.