Most states, in some shape or form, require sellers and their agents to disclose any of these \u201cmaterial defects\u201d about a home upfront in writing (we even put together a list of all 50 states\u2019 mandated disclosure paperwork<\/a> for super easy access).<\/p>\n But per Civil Code Section 1102, California has some unique and particularly thorough rules for home sellers, all laid out in the Transfer Disclosure, that we\u2019ll go through point by point to make completion as easy as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Selling your house soon? Connect with a top agent near you to get an expert opinion on how much your house will sell for, what to fix before listing, and the latest local housing market trends.<\/p>\n \n Generally, sellers complete real estate disclosure paperwork after the buyers sign the purchase offer agreement or may even have it filled out prior to listing their home. There\u2019s no official deadline for delivering the form, but it\u2019s expected to be provided to the buyers in a \u201ctimely fashion.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Then, the buyers of your house do have a deadline to either move forward or terminate the contract based on any discoveries in the disclosure: they get three days to cancel the deal<\/a> if you delivered the document in person, and five days if it came by mail.<\/p>\n By law, you must fill out the disclosure form by yourself, in your own handwriting. While your agent is allowed to assist you in understanding what is being asked of you, he or she cannot legally complete the form on your behalf.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t fill it out for them,\u201d Bakersfield, California<\/a>-based agent Bart Tipton<\/a>, founder and team leader for Prestige Properties, said.<\/p>\n \u201cNor can I give them advice. If they have questions, it\u2019s recommended that they talk to a real estate attorney.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Indeed, your agent should be familiar with your state\u2019s disclosure requirements and statutes but may be limited in what they can legally advise. When in doubt, always consult a real estate attorney<\/a> for their advice on whether you should disclose something about your property\u2019s history to cover all your bases and navigate any gray areas with care.<\/p>\n Filling out the forms accurately is essential, Tipton said, since the threat of failing to properly disclose issues can pose a legal problem. \u201cWhat\u2019s pertinent information to a seller may not be to a buyer and vice versa; that becomes an issue of \u2018under-disclosure\u2019 and that\u2019s going to lead to issues down the road,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"homelight](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n \n Step one: Talk to an expert!<\/h3>\n
Filling out the California Transfer Disclosure Statement: All\u2026by\u2026yourself, sellers!<\/h2>\n