What Is a California Transfer Disclosure Statement?

Please note, all forms in real-estate are important, but this one you may end up to defend it in court. My advice to you the seller is three things: Disclose, Disclose and Disclose. Experience shows, better to disclose even a minor thing then not to disclose. 

A three-page form is often used as supporting evidence in court when a buyer decides to sue a seller for non-disclosure. That's why it's very important that sellers fill it out correctly and disclose pertinent information, which may affect the buyer's decision to move forward with the purchase.

This form is self-explanatory, but there are a few tricky areas that some real estate agents do not fully understand. First, this form must be completed by the seller. An agent cannot complete this form for a seller under any circumstance. If you are unable to fill it out, ask a close relative to do it for you, but do not ask your agent.

Important Disclosures items

(see a blank copy of TDS here)

Date of the Disclosure: This is the date on which sellers complete the disclosure. If something changes between the date the TDS is completed and the property sells, prudent sellers will update the transfer disclosure statement.

Additional Disclosures: Sellers may want to make the buyer's future home inspection part of this disclosure by checking the appropriate box, in addition to including pest reports or any other type of inspection.

Occupancy: Sellers should indicate whether they are presently living in the property.

Section A- Systems, Appliances, and Other Items: The main thing you need to know about the transfer disclosure statement is that sellers are not warranting the condition of the home; sellers are simply disclosing its condition.

Section A is read across, not down, because some items to the right are associated with boxes to the left.

Sellers should check only the items that pertain to the home. For example, if your home does not have a sump pump or a gazebo, you would not check those boxes.

This section asks whether the home has a range, dishwasher, smoke detectors, rain gutters, pool, among other items. It also asks whether water is supplied by the city, a well, private utility, or another source. Check each box that applies. If you disclose that the home has window screens, for example, and there are no screens, the buyer might demand that you buy all new screens.

Moreover, if you do not know the age of your roof, do not make up a number. Also, do not say the home has 220-volt wiring if you are uncertain. If a buyer cannot connect a dryer because there is no 220 wiring, guess what the buyer may demand from you?

Remember to initial the first page.

Section B- Defects or Malfunctions: If you check "yes" to the question that asks if you are aware of any significant defects or malfunctions in any of the following items in Section B, you will need to describe them. Even if you do not think the defect is significant, you should probably disclose it anyway, especially if you have knowledge about it. Section B also puts the parties on notice that the home might not comply with government-mandated requirements.

Section C- Material facts and Special Questions: These 16 questions ask for a lot of information. Therefore, you should read each question carefully and think before answering.

For example, question 2 asks if there are features of the property that are shared in common. For instance, a fence is most likely a shared feature between you and your neighbor. If the fence was the subject of prior boundary disputes with your neighbors, you may also want to consider checking question 3 as "yes."

Question 8 asks about flooding or drainage. If rainwater puddles near your home, you should disclose that fact.

If you live on a busy street or your neighbor's dog barks, consider answering "yes" to question 11.

Buyers aren't likely to walk away from purchasing your home if they read that a dog barks or early morning trash collection trucks cause an occasional disturbance; they get upset, though, if those nuisances have not been disclosed.

Remember to initial and sign page 2 of the transfer disclosure statement.

Section D- Certification: From the seller, this certifies that smoke detectors are installed in accordance with regulations and that the water heater complies with applicable law.

Agent's Inspection Disclosure: If you are represented by a real estate agent, your listing agent will complete the agent's inspection disclosure. A buyer's agent will complete a separate section. Under no circumstance should an agent ever check the box that says there are no items for disclosure. There are always items to disclose.

Agents are often advised not to diagnose the problem or deficiency but should state it in simple terms. For example, if there are black spots in a shower, the agent does not know for certain if it is mold; therefore, it should be disclosed as black spots.

Note that real estate agents should disclose only what they observe. Agents are required by law to walk the property and note everything they see, even if it's a crack in the sidewalk.

Sellers sign page 3. Listing and buyer agents sign page 3. Buyers initial and sign the receipt.

Agents often try to submit additional disclosures near closing that are not required. The most common are the Water Heater and Smoke Detector Statement of Compliance and the Carbon Monoxide Detector Notice, which are included in the TDS on page 2 and are, therefore, redundant.

Call me anytime with your questions. 

562-715-8622