{"id":33505,"date":"2025-01-23T04:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T12:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=33505"},"modified":"2025-12-01T01:53:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T09:53:45","slug":"seller-disclosure-form-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/seller-disclosure-form-california\/","title":{"rendered":"What Must Be Disclosed When Selling a House in California?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Golden State has complex disclosure requirements when selling homes<\/a>. After searching the internet, you may have found seller disclosure forms for California, but nothing that explains what it means. That can be confusing and frustrating.<\/p>\n

After seeing the elaborate California disclosure form, you may wonder whether you need to spend a lot of money on the items listed in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Find a Top Agent to Help You Navigate Disclosures<\/h3>\n

HomeLight\u2019s free Agent Match platform can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market who can help you navigate your entire home-selling journey \u2014 from disclosures to closing.<\/p>\n \n

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Does that sound like you? If so, you\u2019re in the right place. We\u2019re here to explain how seller disclosure forms work in California and make it easier for you to sell your California home.

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What is a seller\u2019s disclosure?<\/h2>\n

Generally, a seller\u2019s disclosure is a standard form containing material defects and features of the property for sale. It\u2019s one of the many documents you need to complete<\/a> before selling your home.<\/p>\n

A material defect is a specific problem with a home\u2019s system or other components that can adversely impact the property\u2019s value or pose a safety risk to people. These defects are not always apparent or visible.<\/p>\n

In most states, if there are material defects on the property and the seller is aware, there is a duty to disclose<\/a> them to potential buyers. Some states have laws that require the seller to complete a disclosure statement or notice, and others do not.

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Is a seller\u2019s disclosure required in California?<\/h2>\n

California Civil Code \u00a71102<\/a> requires a seller\u2019s disclosure. This requirement to disclose applies to real estate property of one to four dwelling units transferred by a sale.<\/p>\n

The form is a standardized checklist called the Transfer Disclosure Statement<\/a>, or TDS. The seller\u2019s disclosure form is also found in the California Department of Real Estate\u2019s handbook<\/a>, helping sellers understand their disclosure requirements and responsibilities.

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What does a California disclosure form mean for buyers?<\/h2>\n

The California disclosure form gives buyers the information they need to help them decide on purchasing a house.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor buyers, it\u2019s their opportunity to find out things about the property that they may not know just from a visual inspection,\u201d explains Karen Anderson<\/a>, a top real estate agent from Los Angeles<\/a> who\u2019s been helping sellers navigate disclosures for almost three decades.<\/p>\n

A California disclosure form doesn\u2019t necessarily ruin a sale. In contrast, it helps you sell your home<\/a> because it shows the buyer and their agent that:<\/p>\n