Buying a Home? Get a C.L.U.E About the Home’s Claims History
Every year, we represent dozens of homebuyers. We regularly advise our clients on the importance of conducting thorough due diligence when purchasing a home. One crucial step that home buyers should consider is requesting that sellers order a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) Report and provide a copy of that report to the buyer.
A CLUE report is a comprehensive insurance claims history report that provides information on any insurance claims that have been filed on a particular property. This report can be invaluable to home buyers as it can reveal any past insurance claims that may indicate potential issues with the property.
By requesting a CLUE report, homebuyers can uncover hidden problems with the property that may not be readily apparent during a traditional home inspection. For example, the report may reveal a history of water damage or mold issues, which could indicate underlying structural problems that may be costly to repair.
Additionally, a CLUE report can also provide insight into the overall condition of the property and help buyers make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the purchase. Armed with this information, buyers can negotiate with sellers for repairs or price adjustments, or even decide to walk away from the deal if the report reveals significant issues.
A CLUE report can also help you understand whether the property is insurable at reasonable rates. If there is a significant claims history associated with the home, that may signal problems getting insurance or that you’ll have to pay higher premiums for insurance. Both can be a serious problem for buyers who are already stretched to afford a new home.
In Pennsylvania, sellers are required to disclose certain information about the property However, that disclosure does not require them to provide a CLUE report to buyers. Here are some tips to get the CLUE report:
If you’re working with a buyer’s agent, tell your agent up front that you are interested in reviewing CLUE reports for homes you are considering for purchase. Your agent can ask the listing agent or seller about the availability of the CLUE report when making arrangements for you to tour the home.
The Agreement of Sale will give you the right to inspect the home. The standard form agreement does not include a requipennrement that the Seller provide the CLUE report. Include a requirement that the seller obtain and disclose a CLUE report in your Agreement of Sale.
Requesting a CLUE report is a smart move for home buyers in Pennsylvania. This report can provide valuable information that may impact the decision to purchase a property and can help buyers avoid potential headaches down the road. Another smart move is working with an experienced real estate attorney when buying a home. You need an advocate on your side to help you understand the homebuying process and protect your interests. We represent homebuyers for a very reasonable flat fee in most instances. Before you sign on the dotted line, call us and become an empower homebuyer.