Why You Need to Read Seller's Disclosures Carefully

People who sell a single-family home are required to provide buyers with a written set of disclosures—and those disclosures must include what the seller knows about the property’s:

Features
Defects
History
Environment

If a seller fails to disclose a material defect (a problem with the home), he or she could be subject to legal action.

How to Read a Seller’s Disclosure in Texas

The first thing you should check on a seller’s disclosure is whether it’s been signed and dated by all sellers. This is something your Realtor® will check, too.

Make sure the seller has answered every question on the form. If there are blank spots, you should be concerned—and you should ask your Realtor request that the sellers properly complete it.

In Sections 3 and 4 of the seller’s disclosure, the seller should only answer “Yes” or “No.” There’s no option for “Unknown,” (that’s an option in Sections 1 and 2) and it’s not acceptable for this term to appear in either Section 3 or 4.

The disclosure is like a snapshot that gives you a look at the home’s condition at one point in time. It opens the door for you to ask relevant questions, too.

For example, you can ask the seller for follow-up information on appliances, such as whether they were installed professionally, or whether the appliances have time left on their warranties. You can also ask: