Q: We are selling our home, partly because the big family that lives next door throws loud parties every weekend and sometimes even during the week. We have called the police on them three or four times. Are we obligated to tell prospective buyers about our noisy neighbors?

A: Yes, you probably have to let potential buyers know about your neighbors’ penchant for partying. Sellers are generally required to disclose any problem that could affect the price that a buyer would offer to pay for a home, whether it’s a hole in the roof that lets rain fall into a private master bathroom or an unruly family that creates a neighborhood-wide nuisance.

Some real estate agents might suggest that the noisy neighbors don’t have to be disclosed to potential buyers, perhaps because they have no impact on the physical condition of the house. But the very fact that you’ve had to call the police out “three or four times” suggests that there’s a serious problem that a buyer would want to know about before making a bid on your home.

If you don’t disclose the problems about your next-door neighbors and simply “hope for the best,” you might very well wind up getting sued shortly after the buyers close the deal and discover the difficulties themselves.

Ironically, the case against you would be bolstered by any written reports that were generated as a result of the calls you made to the police: The buyers could reasonably argue that if you needed to call the cops on several occasions while owning the place, you certainly needed to tell a prospective buyer about the problem when you decided to sell.

Talk with your agent and perhaps even a real estate attorney for more information.

Q: We are spending about $13,000 to convert our den into a formal dining room. Can we deduct this cost on our next income-tax return?

A: No, you cannot take a deduction on your upcoming tax return for the home improvements you are making today. But hang on to your receipts and canceled checks for the work: The costs can be used to offset any taxes you might owe on your home-resale profit when you eventually move.