(a)  Every contract for the purchase and sale of real estate shall provide that a potential purchaser or potential purchasers shall be permitted a ten-day (10) period, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to conduct inspections of the property and any structures thereon before the purchaser(s) becomes obligated under the contract to purchase. The parties have the right to mutually agree upon a different period of time; provided, a potential purchaser may waive this right to inspection in writing.

contract signature

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.8-4

  • Closing: means the time at which real estate is transferred from seller to buyer and consideration is delivered to the seller or to a settlement agent with the intention of imminent delivery upon the recording of pertinent documents and other ministerial acts associated with settlement. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.8-1
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Real estate: means vacant land or real property and improvements consisting of a house or building containing one to four (4) dwelling units. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.8-1
  • Seller: means any individual or entity seeking to transfer title to real estate to a buyer for consideration. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.8-1
  • Transfer: means the sale or conveyance, exchange of, or option to purchase any real estate. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.8-1

(b)  Failure to include the provision required in subsection (a) in the purchase and sale agreement for real estate does not create any defect in title.

(c)  Failure to include in the purchase and sale agreement the provision required in subsection (a) shall entitle the purchaser to void the purchase and sale agreement by providing notice, in writing, to the seller prior to the transfer of the title at a closing.

History of Section.
P.L. 1992, ch. 425, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 375, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 394, § 1.