Paperwork For Selling A House Without A Realtor: 2024 Checklist

7% of sellers find it difficult to understand and complete the paperwork for selling a house. A FSBO home sale may aggravate the toll on you as per the 4% of sellers. The endless documentation adds up to your workload.

You need to organization the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor before you even list it. You should make a checklist of documents for a FSBO sale. It will include seller disclosures, purchase agreements, title reports, etc.

If you list your home with Houzeo, you can get help with the FSBO paperwork. You will get a step by step guide on the documents you need to complete before and after the listing. We also update you on the timeline of all FSBO paperwork and records maintenance.

Paperwork for Selling a House Without a Realtor

We have listed each document required for selling a house. Keeping your documents organized makes the buyers confident in the deal.

6 Documents Needed to List the Home on the MLS

Here is a list of documents you will need before you even list your house on the MLS:

1. Seller Disclosures: You need to disclose a property’s defects to buyers. This could include seepage in the ceiling, pests, defective appliances, etc. A seller disclosure is a standard checklist that reveals home conditions.
2. MLS Input Form: A data entry form to enter the listing information about your property.
3. Deed or Property Title: It contains the details of the legal owner and a description of the property. It protects the buyer’s ownership claims in the future.
4. Property Tax Bill: This document reflects the tax paid by the homeowner on the property. Buyers can estimate how much they’ll pay once the property is theirs.
5. Mortgage Statement: It’s a detailed statement that outlines specifics of your loan. It states the payable amount and the remaining period. If you have an outstanding loan, you can calculate how much of the sale proceeds can be used to pay the loan. You’ll want records of other loans as well.
6. Property Survey: It’s a legal document that shows the demarcation or the boundaries of the property. Buyers usually request the details of fences, area, and land map.

Closing Documents Required for Selling a House by Owner

You will require these documents at closing:

1. Affidavit of Title: You’ll have to prove that the house is under your name. This document provides certainty about the chain of title. It protects buyers from inheriting the legal issues of the home’s current owner.
2. Deed: It’s a physical document that transfers ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer. Property ownership cannot be transferred without a deed.
3. Purchase Agreement: This legally binds the seller and buyer and may also be referred to as the Sale and Purchase Agreement. It lays out the property description, agreed price, contingency clauses, etc.
4. Tax Records: You should maintain local tax data like your tax rate, property assessment value, and tax exemptions for the property.
5. Settlement Statement: There are two main settlement statements: closing disclosures and HUD-1 settlement statements. They provide information on loans, principal amounts, interest rates, credit terms and conditions, and information about the borrower. 
6. 1099-S Tax Form: This is a tax form that specifies the capital gains you will owe on the home sale. You should check if you qualify for an exemption under long term capital gains.

Other Paperwork for Selling a House as FSBO

You may collect some optional documents for example, CMA reports, bills, receipts for new appliances, and warranties. These are not mandatory but it will help buyers to know about your home and appliances.

1. Utility Bills: The bills of ongoing supplies at your home will help the buyer get an idea of utility costs.
2. Repair Bills: Buyers don’t request it explicitly. However, properly maintaining bills reveals that you have invested in taking care of the property or recently renovated it.
3. Maintenance Service Records: The receipts for the appliances at your home help buyers to know their current state. They will also know where to connect in case any repair is needed.
4. Divorce Decree – You will need to prove your ownership if the house was previously owned by your ex-spouse.
5. Water Quality Test: Some municipalities may require a water quality test.
6. Comparative Market Analysis: A professional agent or broker prepares CMA report for you to estimate your home price. It involves the study of current market values for properties in your neighborhood similar to your house.
7. Certificate of Compliance: It’s a document that certifies the compliance of your property with local laws. This helps potential buyers know if the property has violated any laws.
8. Original Sales Contract: It discloses the sale price and any disclosures the previous owner before you made. It isn’t always necessary, but the buyer may request a copy to avoid title mishaps.
9. Homeowner’s Association Documents: Buyers can request a copy of the HOA documents if you live in an area run by a homeowners’ association. Such documents talk about rules of the association like quiet hours, street parking, pet ownership, and other regulations.

Free Paperwork for Selling a House by Owner

We’ve compiled a state-wise list of the essential selling home by owner paperwork. You can refer to the table below to check the documents required as per your region.

If you can’t find FSBO documents for free, there are paid options like USLegal. Many legal forms for selling house by owner, such as tax records and property surveys are available online.

How Can You Save Documentation Time?

You have to go through endless paperwork to sell home by owner. Organization and maintenance of all the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor can take a huge toll on your other priorities. There’s a lot to maintain and every piece of paper is important.

If you’re caught up in your priorities and can’t figure out what documents to maintain, contact Houzeo. Our online solutions provide a complete document checklist to be submitted. Our professional real estate experts help you organize all the documents.

You can list your home with Houzeo for a flat fee of $399 and sell FSBO. Houzeo’s flat fee MLS listing plans get you access to paperwork such as Federal & State Disclosures. Your workflow gets smoother with online tools like Offers Dashboard and Showings Management.

5 Easy Steps to List on MLS

Check out the following video to understand how to list your house on Houzeo and save on commissions.

» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why it is one of the best FSBO sites in America.

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