Gather before you list
- Permits and final inspections for additions, remodels, roofs, HVAC, water heaters, electrical and solar. Unpermitted work can come up in the buyer's inspection or appraisal.
- Major system ages: roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical panel, pool equipment. Buyers and inspectors will ask.
- Service history: who serviced what, and when. A record of annual HVAC service is a selling point.
- Warranties, and whether each one transfers to a new owner. Some roof, solar and HVAC warranties transfer only if you register the transfer.
- Recent repair invoices, especially for anything the buyer's inspector is likely to flag.
- HOA documents, if you have an HOA: CC&Rs, rules, budget and recent meeting minutes.
Disclosure requirements vary by state. Your agent will give you the forms your state requires; good records help you answer them accurately.
Hand to the buyer at closing
- Manuals and warranty paperwork for appliances and equipment that stay with the house.
- The list of service providers you've used and trust, by trade.
- Paint colors and finishes, by room.
- Filter sizes for the HVAC and water systems.
- Where the shutoffs are: main water, gas and the electrical panel, with a labeled panel directory.
- Irrigation schedule and zone map, pool equipment settings.
- Codes and remotes: garage doors, gates, alarm system, smart devices (reset or transfer the accounts).
- Utility and service companies for the address: power, gas, water, trash, internet.
What not to hand over
Buyers need the house's history, not your finances. What you paid for repairs and improvements is yours: keep those records for your own taxes (see what home improvement records to keep for taxes).
Common questions
Do I have to give the buyer my repair receipts?
Generally not. What you must disclose depends on your state’s rules and your contract. Sharing service history and system ages is common and helps buyers; what you paid stays private.
Do warranties transfer to the new owner?
Some do automatically, some only if you register the transfer within a set time, and some don’t transfer at all. Check each warranty’s terms before you list.