{"id":98750,"date":"2025-03-04T12:57:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T20:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=98750"},"modified":"2025-05-27T14:32:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T21:32:45","slug":"documents-to-sell-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/documents-to-sell-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Real Estate Forms You Need to Sell Your House"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a number of tasks you need to undertake in order to prepare, list, and sell your home. There is also seemingly a mountain of real estate paperwork that needs to be tracked down, filled out, signed, and processed in order to sell your home quickly and smoothly. Whether you’re selling a home in Buffalo, NY<\/a>, or a condo in Phoenix, AZ<\/a>, there are a variety of documents you’ll need along the way.<\/p>\n

In this Redfin article, we\u2019ll review the real estate forms you should get ready at each stage in the process of selling your home. Of course, you may need specific paperwork depending on your situation or local laws in your area, so be sure to consult with your real estate agent<\/a>\u00a0or attorney during the\u00a0home selling process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Tudor<\/p>\n

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15 documents to have before listing your home<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Collect paperwork that highlights your home\u2019s selling points for an accurate pricing strategy, additional documentation to pass on to the new owners and other real estate forms required for the sale.<\/p>\n

Appliance records<\/h4>\n

Be sure to collect any warranties, manuals, and relevant service records for major appliances that are included with the sale of your home.<\/p>\n

Records on upgrades and additions<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll want to gather any documentation on relevant repairs, replacements, or other improvements that added value to the house or prolonged its life. For the exterior, that means any documentation for redoing your roof, installing new fiber cement siding or double-paned windows, etc. For the interior, this usually means that you\u2019ve bought new appliances for your kitchen or laundry room, replaced your water heater, or put in new flooring, among other upgrades.<\/p>\n

If you added a new bathroom, porch, deck, or accessory dwelling unit (ADU), you\u2019ll want to have the receipts on hand\u2014including permits if they were required. Another update that could add value is landscaping, which could include building a fence, planting trees, or even building a raised garden. Additionally, it\u2019s important to have documentation on any major upgrades to the systems in your house, such as HVAC, water filtration, sprinklers, or security systems.<\/p>\n

Any repairs or maintenance that have been part of the normal upkeep of your home and don\u2019t add value for the buyer won\u2019t need any documentation.<\/p>\n

Pre-listing home inspection<\/h4>\n

As the seller, it may be helpful to get an inspection of your home done before selling your home<\/a>, though in most markets the buyer will pay for a home inspection and most states do not require a pre-listing home inspection. As a seller, a pre-listing home inspection can help you identify defects in your home before you put it on the market. This will allow you time to address anything you want to fix so it doesn\u2019t hold up the selling process. It also puts you in a stronger, more informed position if and when you begin negotiating with the buyer. The buyer will have a harder time asking for a price reduction or other concession if the\u00a0home inspection<\/a>\u00a0they ordered checks out.<\/p>\n

Home appraisal<\/h4>\n

You would have received a professional home appraisal<\/a>\u00a0from when you initially purchased your house because your mortgage lender would have required it. If you had any subsequent appraisals performed, such as if you had your home appraised so you could refinance or help you determine a list price, you\u2019ll want to collect those real estate forms as well.<\/p>\n

Mortgage and financing documents<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll want to put together all your home loan and financing forms you would have received from your mortgage lender<\/a>. Particularly you\u2019ll need the original purchase agreement and deed. These could also include any home equity loans or lines of credit you may have with your lender.<\/p>\n

Deed<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll need the deed to your house. If you\u2019ve misplaced your home\u2019s deed, you can get a copy from your county document recorder\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

Homeowner’s insurance records<\/h4>\n

These documents can be helpful if buyers want to get a ballpark idea of the cost to insure the property. But more importantly, it\u2019s a good idea to touch base with your home insurer to make sure you won\u2019t have a gap in coverage between selling your home and buying your next property.<\/p>\n

Original sales contract for your house<\/h4>\n

This real estate document is the original sales contract you made with the previous owner of your property. Though you do not need to have this to sell your house, it could come in handy in case any discrepancies come up with the current sale of your home.<\/p>\n

Property survey<\/h4>\n

Depending on your state, your lender might have required a property survey<\/a>\u00a0when you bought the home. Having a current survey is especially important if you have any easements, such as a driveway access easement.<\/p>\n

Certificate of occupancy (CO)<\/h4>\n

The buyer\u2019s mortgage lender may require a certificate of occupancy. If you don\u2019t have a copy on hand, you should be able to get a copy from your city or county permitting office.<\/p>\n

Certificates of compliance with building and zoning codes<\/h4>\n

If you subdivided your property and\/or built another dwelling on your parcel of land, legally you would have obtained a certificate of compliance to confirm you were following all local zoning laws. If you don\u2019t have copies on hand, you can request them from your city or county permitting office.<\/p>\n

Tax records<\/h4>\n

These documents can be helpful if buyers want to get a ballpark idea of the cost to insure the property. But more importantly, it\u2019s a good idea to touch base with your home insurer to make sure you won\u2019t have a gap in coverage between selling your home and buying your next property.<\/p>\n

Preliminary title report<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll want to find your original title report.<\/a> It will show if anyone else, other than yourself, had a legal claim to your property at the time of purchase. The homebuyer will still have a title company<\/a> perform a preliminary title report as part of the home selling process. However, it\u2019s still a good idea to have your original on hand in case any discrepancies come up.<\/p>\n

Termite or pest inspection<\/h4>\n

Not every state requires a pest inspection in order to sell your home. However, if you live in a state that does, or if your pre-listing home inspection turns up some pest activity, then you\u2019ll want to make sure to get a pest inspection scheduled and passed so you have the documentation to prove your house is ready to sell.<\/p>\n

Additional documents for properties with HOAs<\/h4>\n

If the home you\u2019re selling is currently part of an HOA, you may have additional real estate paperwork to gather, which could include:<\/p>\n