What’s on the Ohio Seller Disclosure Form?
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- 8 min read
- Joseph Gordon EditorCloseJoseph Gordon Editor
Joseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
You know your Ohio home better than anyone, meaning you know what’s great about it, and what needs some work.
However, if you want to sell your Ohio property, you also need to disclose on the Ohio seller disclosure form, officially known as the Residential Property Disclosure Form.
This form provides potential buyers with a clearer picture of your property’s condition and history, enabling them to make a more informed decision. Additionally, it can also protect you.
In this post, we’ll tell you what to expect, how much detail to provide, and what could go wrong if you leave something out. We’ll also provide a downloadable Disclosure Litmus Test to help you identify any red flags.
What is the Ohio seller disclosure form?
The Ohio seller disclosure form, or Residential Property Disclosure Form, is a 5-page document developed by the Ohio Association of Realtors. It’s designed to help you disclose any known issues or facts about your home that could impact its value or a buyer’s decision to continue with the transaction.
Ohio law requires sellers to disclose all material facts — in other words, anything that could impact the buyer’s use or enjoyment of the property. The Residential Property Disclosure Form serves as a guide to help you do this thoroughly. It covers everything from structural issues and past repairs to neighborhood conditions and HOA rules.
Note: Even if you’re selling a home “as is” in Ohio, you’re still required to be truthful and transparent about what you know.
What’s included in the Ohio seller disclosure form?
Below is a section-by-section summary of what you’ll be asked to disclose when selling a home in Ohio. This is not intended to be a comprehensive listing — just to give you a quick overview of what you might encounter on an Ohio disclosure form. The contents of your form might vary.
Water supply
Source of water (public, private, well, cistern, holding tank, spring, pond, shared well, other)
Known leaks, backups, or issues with the water system
Any water-quality concerns
Whether the water quantity has been sufficient for household use
Sewer system
Type of sewer system (public, private, septic, leach field, aeration tank, filtration bed, other)
Date of last inspection if not on public/private sewer
Known leaks, backups, or other sewer issues
Roof
Previous or current leaks
Known roof or gutter problems
Repairs completed within the past 5 years
Water intrusion
Past or present water intrusion in basements, crawl spaces, or other areas
Water- or moisture-related damage to floors, walls, or ceilings
Mold inspections or remediation performed
Wood-destroying insects/termites
Evidence of termites or wood-destroying insects
Damage from insects
Any inspections or treatments completed
Mechanical systems
Known problems with:
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- Electrical system
- Plumbing
- Central heat and air
- Sump pump
- Fireplace/chimney
- Lawn sprinkler
- Water softener (including lease details)
- Security system (including lease details)
- Central vacuum
- Built-in appliances
- Any other mechanical system
Repairs made within the past 5 years
Hazardous materials
Presence of:
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- Lead-based paint
- Asbestos
- Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation
- Radon gas (including level if known)
- Other toxic or hazardous substances
Any remediation or mitigation actions
Additional explanations
This is a freeform space to clarify any earlier answers or provide details that didn’t fit elsewhere. If you marked “yes” to something earlier in the form, this is your opportunity to explain it fully.
Other issues that could appear on your disclosure form include information about the home’s wastewater and storage tanks, proximity to flood or coastal plains, and the presence of hazardous materials.
Download and print our Disclosure Litmus Test
Use this link to download a printable checklist (62KB) to prepare for completing the Ohio seller disclosure form. The questions on this Seller Disclosure Litmus Test reflect the types of details and issues you may need to reveal about your home — and what buyers expect to know.
Check off any items that apply to your Ohio property. If you’re unsure about something, make a note to ask your real estate agent or investigate further. The goal is to help you think through what needs to be documented and disclosed during the sale process.
What is not required to be disclosed? Ohio law does not require you to disclose if someone died in the home, regardless of how or the presence of supposed ghosts. Ohio home sellers are also not required to reveal personal reasons for selling, unless those reasons directly conflict with something that is legally required to be disclosed. Additionally, you are not required to disclose if a previous occupant had HIV or AIDs.
Common mistakes sellers make on the disclosure form
Here are some of the most common missteps sellers make when filling out the Ohio Residential Property Disclosure Form:
- Checking “yes” without providing an explanation: If you check a yes box that includes an “Explain” line, you need to explain why. Failing to do so could result in the sale being delayed or even falling through.
- Guessing instead of explaining: If you’re not sure about something, don’t make assumptions — just state that you don’t know or add an explanation.
- Failing to attach supporting documents: Inspection reports, permits, repair invoices, and warranties help verify your disclosures.
- Not disclosing repaired issues: Even if you’ve fixed a problem listed on the form, like a roof leak or plumbing issue, it still needs to be reported and disclosed in full.
- Minimizing or softening the truth: Downplaying a defect can open you up to legal risk if the buyer later discovers the issue was worse than described.
What if you fail to disclose something important?
If you fail to disclose a known material fact about your Ohio home, the buyer may have grounds to cancel the contract or sue you after the sale. In some cases, nondisclosure can be treated as fraud under Ohio law, especially if the omission appears intentional. Being upfront now helps prevent bigger headaches later.
When and how buyers review the disclosure
Under Ohio’s standard purchase contract, you’re expected to provide a completed Residential Property Disclosure Form as soon as an offer is made. The buyer then has a set review period, usually three days, to examine the form and decide whether to move forward, request repairs, or even decide to pass on buying the property.
Partner with a top Ohio agent to protect your sale
Disclosing your home’s condition is one of the most important — and legally sensitive — parts of the selling process in Ohio. A top local agent can help you understand what’s required, avoid common pitfalls, and provide expert guidance so you can complete the Residential Property Disclosure Form accurately and confidently.
Unsure where to start? HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform connects you with trusted real estate agents in your Ohio market. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your goals and selling timeline.
You’ll find more helpful guides in HomeLight’s Ohio Seller Resource Center.
See the top real estate agents in 10 Ohio markets:
- Top real estate agents in Columbus
- Top real estate agents in Cleveland
- Top real estate agents in Akron
- Top real estate agents in Cuyahoga Falls
- Top real estate agents in Lakewood
- Top real estate agents in Parma
- Top real estate agents in Cleveland Heights
- Top real estate agents in Medina
- Top real estate agents in Warren
- Top real estate agents in Mentor
If you’re buying and selling at the same time, check out HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program, which can streamline the entire process so you only move once. Watch this short video to see how it works.
Header Image Source: (Roger Starnes Sr/ Unsplash)