Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

Do I have to fix a sidewalk violation before I can sell my Saskatoon house?

You are not legally required to fix a sidewalk issue before selling a Saskatoon house, but the City of Saskatoon can still issue an order to repair a hazardous sidewalk, and an unresolved order attached to the property is something a buyer's lawyer will find during their review.

The City of Saskatoon inspects and can order repairs to a damaged public sidewalk adjoining a residential property, and if the order is outstanding at possession, the cost and the obligation typically become the new owner's problem, which most buyers' lawyers will flag before closing.

Leaving it unresolved does not usually stop a sale, but it does give a buyer's lawyer leverage to ask for a price reduction or a holdback of funds until the repair is done, and legal fees to negotiate that kind of holdback, typically $800 to $1,500, often cost more than fixing the sidewalk before listing.

A quick check with the city on any outstanding order is worth doing before your first showing. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

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