Gather your property history
Collect repair records, inspection reports, improvement records, available permits, warranties, notices, and relevant association documents. Write down known issues and changes so you can discuss them with your broker.
Disclosures & Real Estate GuidesCalifornia Real Estate
California Real Estate
Disclosures & Guides
What should you disclose when selling a home? What should you review before buying? Start with practical steps, learn which questions to ask, and call Tunity for help with your real estate transaction.
General educational information for California real estate consumers. This page does not replace property-specific disclosures, your signed agreements, or advice from a qualified legal, tax, lending, insurance, or other specialist. Requirements depend on the property and transaction.
Start here · California property disclosuresWhat should sellers disclose?
What should sellers disclose?
What should buyers review?
Disclosures help buyers understand a property and the transaction. The right packet depends on the property and circumstances. A form, inspection, and title report each serve a different purpose.
Common documents you may encounter
- Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS). A seller-completed statement addressing the property's condition and known issues in transactions where it applies.
- Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD). Information about designated hazard zones. Review the statement and supporting reports; ask about any property-specific questions.
- Agency disclosures and representation agreements. Documents explaining representation and the terms of the brokerage relationship.
- Lead-based paint information. Federal disclosure rules apply to most housing built before 1978, with exceptions. Ask which notices, records, and opportunities to investigate apply.
- Other property records. Depending on the transaction, these may include association documents, title information, inspection findings, permits, and local disclosures.
A seller's starting checklist01 02 03 04 05 06
Six steps to get organized.
Identify the applicable documents
Ask which disclosures and reports apply to your property and transaction. Property type, location, age, occupancy, and the nature of the transfer can change the documents involved.
Complete your disclosures carefully
Read every question and answer from your own knowledge. Use available records to support your responses. Do not guess, conceal a known concern, or assume that another report answers every disclosure question.
Review the packet together
Go through the documents with your broker. Flag inconsistent information, missing attachments, and questions that need a qualified inspector, title professional, agency, or attorney.
Coordinate delivery and follow-up
Keep copies and a record of delivery. Ask your broker how later-discovered information should be addressed and how the disclosure process interacts with the agreement and transaction deadlines.
Get help before a concern becomes a dispute
Contact your broker promptly when a new issue appears or a buyer raises a question. For advice about legal duties, rights, liability, or remedies, consult a qualified attorney.
What should I do when I receive disclosures as a buyer?
Read the complete packet, including attachments. Compare it with your inspections and available records, list questions in writing, and discuss follow-up with your broker before making decisions tied to your agreement. Ask the appropriate specialist to investigate technical or legal concerns; do not treat a signed receipt as a substitute for understanding the documents.
Does a disclosure replace a property inspection?
No. A disclosure reports information; an inspection investigates the property within the inspector's agreed scope. Review both and discuss whether additional specialist inspections or records are appropriate.
Can I use one disclosure checklist for every California property?
A general checklist helps you prepare questions, but it cannot establish the requirements for every transaction. Property characteristics, location, transfer circumstances, and applicable rules matter. Discuss the particular property with your broker and obtain legal advice when needed.
Read more from California DRE on real property disclosures, DRE on natural hazard disclosure updates, and EPA on lead-based paint disclosure.
A homebuyer's starting pointBuying a home in
Buying a home in
Los Angeles County.
Understand the sequence before you start. These steps provide an overview; your property's details and your agreement determine the specific work and timing.
Define your priorities
Choose your preferred communities, property type, must-have features, and timing. Separate needs from preferences so your search stays focused.
Plan the full budget
Account for your down payment, purchase costs, taxes, insurance, association dues if applicable, maintenance, and a reserve for unexpected expenses. Ask your lender to explain what is included in an estimated monthly payment.
Discuss financing early
If you plan to borrow, compare lenders and ask about preapproval, loan options, documentation, and ongoing conditions. Preapproval helps frame a search; it is not a guarantee that a particular property or final loan will be approved.
Choose your representation
Discuss who will represent you, how the relationship works, the scope and duration of the agreement, and compensation. Read the agreement before signing and ask questions while there is time to understand the answers.
Compare properties
Visit suitable properties and compare features, condition, costs, location, and available records. Consider how the property fits your actual plans rather than relying on photographs or a list price alone.
Review the offer and deadlines
Work with your broker on price, terms, proposed contingencies, deposit instructions, and timing. Read the complete offer and understand what you are agreeing to before you sign.
Complete your due diligence
Review disclosures, reports, title information, inspections, insurance availability, and financing requirements. Ask qualified specialists about concerns outside your broker’s expertise, and track the deadlines in your agreement.
Prepare for closing and handover
Review final loan and escrow documents with the relevant providers, verify payment instructions independently, and coordinate the final walkthrough, recording, possession, and utilities under your agreement.
Explore the California DRE homebuyer guide and CFPB mortgage disclosure information.
For sellersPrepare the property.
Prepare the property.
Prepare the information.
A useful selling plan brings together presentation, pricing, documentation, and timing. Start early so questions can be addressed before they interrupt a transaction.
- Gather the records. Organize available permits, repair invoices, warranties, improvement records, leases, and association documents.
- Review the market. Discuss comparable properties, property condition, positioning, and a pricing strategy with your broker.
- Plan presentation and access. Agree on preparation, photography, showing arrangements, and how inquiries will be handled.
- Address disclosures carefully. Discuss known property conditions and the applicable disclosure process. Ask your broker or a qualified professional when you are unsure how to address a concern.
- Compare the complete offer. Review financing, contingencies, deposits, deadlines, possession, and proposed terms alongside price.
- Stay organized through escrow. Keep track of required documents, agreed repairs, access, and final closing steps.
For tenants and property ownersUnderstand the lease
Understand the lease
before the move.
Residential and commercial leases can involve very different terms. Start by clarifying the property, intended use, responsibilities, costs, and the people involved.
If you are seeking a property
- Define the location, property features, budget, and occupancy timeline you need.
- Review the application process and provide requested information through a trusted channel.
- Read rent, deposits, utilities, maintenance, renewal, and move-out provisions before signing.
- For business space, investigate permitted use, build-out needs, access, and operating costs with appropriate specialists.
If you own a rental property
- Organize current leases, property records, maintenance information, and expense history.
- Clarify the scope of any leasing or management agreement, including reporting and handling of funds.
- Use consistent, objective property criteria and discuss applicable housing requirements with qualified professionals.
- Keep a written record of condition, communications, work performed, and agreed responsibilities.
Questions worth askingLook beyond
Look beyond
the listing.
Property ownership involves documents, people, physical conditions, and ongoing costs. Use these topics to prepare questions for your brokerage team and specialist advisers.
Representation, agency, and broker oversight
Know who represents whom and how information will be handled. Ask your broker to explain the agency disclosures, representation agreement, compensation arrangement, and any potential conflicts. If you need clarification about Tunity's services, contact Sebastian Kouladjian, the responsible broker, directly.
Contracts, contingencies, and transaction records
Read the complete agreement, including incorporated documents and later amendments. Keep copies, record the agreed deadlines, and ask questions about terms you do not understand. A broker can explain the transaction process; questions about legal rights, disputes, or legal interpretation should go to a qualified attorney.
Disclosures and property investigations
Disclosures and inspections provide different kinds of information. Review the seller's disclosures, relevant reports, available records, and inspection findings together. A standard inspection may not answer every question about a property; discuss whether specialist review is appropriate. Applicable disclosures vary with the property's location, age, type, and circumstances.
Environmental hazards and insurance questions
Ask about property-related concerns such as lead, asbestos, moisture, soil conditions, and natural hazards where relevant. Review available reports and consult qualified inspectors or environmental professionals about questions requiring testing or technical assessment. Discuss insurance availability and coverage with an insurance professional early in the process.
Fair housing, equal opportunity, and implicit bias
Fair housing protections apply to many housing activities, including buying, renting, and financing. Tunity is committed to equal housing opportunity. Keep property decisions focused on objective requirements, and seek reliable information rather than assumptions about people or communities. HUD explains federal protections and how consumers can report suspected discrimination.
Deposits, trust funds, and payment security
Understand who will hold a deposit, how payment is documented, and which agreement governs its handling. Before sending closing funds, verify the account and instructions with your trusted escrow or closing representative through a previously verified phone number. Do not rely on a last-minute email change or the contact details supplied in that message.
Energy efficiency, solar, and ongoing costs
Ask for information about insulation, heating and cooling equipment, windows, recent utility use, and any available energy assessments. If a home has solar, clarify whether the equipment is owned, financed, leased, or subject to a power purchase agreement, and review the associated documents. A feature described as efficient does not establish your future costs.
Water supply and water rights
Ask how the property receives water and what records are available about the service, well, supply, or related arrangements. Water access and water rights require property-specific investigation. Do not assume a right to use water simply because a stream, diversion, or water feature is on or near the land. Consult the appropriate agency and specialist adviser when water rights are relevant.
Property management, ethics, and clear communication
If a property is occupied, review the available lease and operating information as part of your investigation. Clarify which services a brokerage or manager is actually agreeing to provide, what reporting is included, and who handles maintenance and funds. Ask for clear written terms and raise concerns promptly with the responsible broker.
Keep learning
Official consumer resources.
These public resources offer a useful starting point. Use the current agency guidance and seek qualified advice for a specific property or concern.
California DRE · Information for HomebuyersCalifornia DRE · Real Property DisclosuresCFPB · Mortgage Disclosure GuideHUD · Fair Housing ProtectionsCalifornia Public Health · Hazard DisclosuresCalifornia Water Boards · Water Rights
Information reviewed October 29, 2026. Linked agencies maintain their own guidance. This is general education, not individualized legal, tax, lending, or insurance advice.
Your next step
Let's make a plan.
Speak directly with Sebastian Kouladjian, Responsible Broker · DRE #02057129.