State
and federal laws are strict in requiring sellers to tell what they know
about the condition of their homes that isn't obvious or discernable to
potential buyers. Buyers can't see behind walls or under houses, so
they rely on truthful information from the seller about the operations,
appliances and systems of the home.
When you sell your home, your real estate agent will present you with a
federal and/or state-mandated disclosure form called a Real Estate
Disclosure Statement, Property Condition Disclosure, or Condition
Report. You're required to disclose the presence of lead.
Sellers
think once their home or condominium is listed online — perhaps with
its own website — there's little left to do but wait for offers to pour
in. Not true.
Curb appeal is king. The work of drawing prospective buyers out of their cars and through the front door has just begun.