If you're thinking about selling your home here in Idaho—whether it’s a cozy cabin up in McCall, a farmhouse in Emmett, or a place in one of Boise’s growing neighborhoods—you might be wondering what you’re legally required to tell buyers.

We all know sellers need to disclose the big stuff—think leaky roofs, faulty foundations, or that DIY plumbing job that maybe wasn’t up to code. But what about more sensitive things, like if someone passed away in the home?

Let’s break it down, Idaho-style.

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?? So… Do You Have to Disclose a Death in an Idaho Home?

Here in Idaho, the law is actually pretty relaxed when it comes to this. If someone passed away peacefully in the home—natural causes, old age, etc.—you’re not required to disclose that.

But like many things in real estate, it gets a little trickier when you're dealing with more traumatic circumstances.

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?? What About Violent Deaths Like Murders or Suicides?

Idaho doesn’t require sellers to disclose a murder, suicide, or other death in the home unless the buyer asks directly. That means if it wasn’t public knowledge and no one brings it up, you’re not legally on the hook to say anything.

That said, I’m a big fan of doing the right thing. If you know a buyer might care, it’s better to be upfront than to lose a deal during escrow when it surfaces.

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?? If a Buyer Asks You Directly—You’ve Gotta Tell the Truth

If a buyer (or their agent) asks you point-blank, “Has anyone died in the home?”—you’re required to answer honestly. And if you don’t? You could be looking at legal trouble down the road.

So yeah… just be straight about it. Full disclosure always wins.

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?? Can Buyers Find Out on Their Own?

Absolutely. If a buyer is concerned and you don’t have the info, there are services like DiedInHouse.com that pull records. Buyers who care about this stuff will usually do a little digging anyway, so again—it’s better to be proactive than reactive.

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?? What About Other States?

Idaho keeps things pretty chill compared to some places.

For example:

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  California requires disclosure if any death occurred in the past 3 years (even from natural causes).

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  Alaska & South Dakota require disclosure of murders or suicides if they happened within the past year.

In most other states—including ours—it’s more of a “don’t ask, don’t tell” situation… unless someone does ask.

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?? Bottom Line for Sellers in Idaho

If you’re selling a home here in the Gem State, you don’t need to go digging into the past unless:

1. 
   

   A buyer asks you directly, or

1. 
   

   The death involved something violent and was public knowledge.

When in doubt, talk to your real estate agent (hi, that’s me ??) and we’ll walk through how to handle it. Every situation is a little different, and we always want to make sure you’re covered legally—and that the buyer feels good about the home they’re getting.

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Need help navigating disclosures, prepping your home for sale, or just figuring out what buyers in Idaho are really looking for? Let’s chat. I’m here to make the process less stressful—and a whole lot more human.