Checklist of Paperwork You'll Need When You're Ready to Sell

Every step of selling a home seems to come with documents you'll need to provide your agent, your buyers, and the mortgage companies. Save yourself some late-night sifting through file cabinets or old boxes by gathering what you'll need before listing.

These are the documents you'll probably need to sell your home:
• The sales contract, with purchase price, for your purchase of the home
• Any documents related to title and ownership
• Any property surveys
• Any permits, certificates of occupancy or other documents issued in connection with renovations
• Receipts for improvements or documentation of repairs that you'll need to disclose – when in doubt, you probably will need to disclose.
• Copies of any pre-sale inspection reports
• Any correspondence with anyone regarding anything that will impact the value of your home
• Your mortgage documents – including a payoff estimate from your lender
• Tax records
• Monthly dues and the covenants, conditions and restrictions of applicable homeowners associations
• Home repair and maintenance records
• Manuals and warranty information for appliances to be sold with the home
• The names and addresses of the public schools aligned with your address

Each state has its own disclosure laws. You will complete a sometimes lengthy Seller's Disclosure Statement to let any potential buyers know material facts about the home and its condition, to the best of your ability. It's a legal document and one you do not want to risk fudging. If your home has had problems and you've addressed them, providing the receipts and other documentation showing that should help smooth the way.