Seller's property disclosure
A form the seller fills out listing known problems with the home. Rules vary by state, but skipping or lying on it can lead to a lawsuit down the road.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
It is the form where you write down what you know about the house, and it follows the sale for years. Filling it out honestly and completely is the single best protection a seller has after closing.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The form asks about the roof, water, systems, additions and pests. You note a roof repair in 2021, an unpermitted deck, and a sump pump that runs in spring.
| How the form is filled in | What tends to follow |
|---|---|
| Honestly, including the unpermitted deck | The buyer prices it in; nothing surfaces later |
| With "unknown" on everything | Buyers read it as evasive, and a court may too |
| With a known problem left off | The most common route to a lawsuit after closing |
The disclosure is your memory of the house, written for a stranger. Complete beats flattering.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That disclosing problems lowers the price. Undisclosed problems lower it later, after closing, with legal fees attached.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
One piece of your sale. Here is where all the pieces live.
In your room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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