Posted on Nov 09th 2016

As a seller, what do you — and don’t you — need to tell the buyer about your home?
If you’re not sure if you should disclose something, you probably should,” As sellers, we need to really disclose the following to the potential buyers.

1. Lead paint

One item is a must when it comes to being upfront with potential buyers: the use of lead-based paint in your home. “If the home was built before 1978, each party in a transaction needs to sign a lead paint disclosure,”

2. Paranormal activity

Ghosts haunting your house? Fess up to the potential buyer ASAP. “If you think your house is haunted, or if you’ve had an exorcism done, you should disclose the info to the buyer side.” Although rules vary from state to state on this topic, in some states, like Arizona, sellers are obligated to disclose “all known material facts” about a home, which could potentially include hauntings and paranormal activity.

3. Emotional defects

Depending on your location, you may be required to disclose what some call “emotional defects” about a home — specifically, if a murder, suicide, or violent crime occurred there.

4. Pests

Whether it’s snakes, mice, or bats, in most states, sellers are required by law to disclose any sort of pest infestation or issue.

5. Property drainage issues

If the property has drainage issues, it must be disclosed.

6. Neighbor disputes or boundary issues

It might not seem like a big deal that your fence is 1 foot inside your neighbor’s property line, but it can affect a new owner down the road. What may seem like a small neighborly dispute could actually become a major one when homes change hands, so it’s wise to disclose it upfront.