Selling Your Arizona Home? Don’t Get Sued!

A Super Simple Guide to Property Disclosures

Thinking about selling your house in Arizona? 🏠
Before you grab that "SOLD" sign, there’s one BIG thing you need to know:

👉 You MUST tell buyers the truth about your home.
It’s called a property disclosure, and if you skip it—or lie—you could get sued. 😬

Let’s break this down in plain English (no lawyer talk here).

✅ What Is a Property Disclosure?

When you sell your home, you have to tell buyers about anything wrong with it that you know about. That means leaks, roof issues, termites, busted AC units—anything that could make the buyer say, “Wait... what?”

Think of it like this:

If it would matter to YOU as a buyer, you should probably tell it.

⚖️ Why Is This a Big Deal?

Because it’s the law in Arizona!
Even if your home is sold as-is, you're still required to be honest about known problems.

Failing to share important details = lawsuits, canceled deals, or even having to give the money back. Not fun.

📄 What’s the SPDS Form?

Most Arizona sellers use a form called the SPDS (Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement).
It’s like a checklist of things you need to tell the buyer about your home.

Examples include:

• Does the roof leak? 🏚️

• Is there a history of termites? 🐜

• Did you build a room without a permit? 🛠️

• Are you in an HOA? 🏘️
  

You get the idea.

🤔 What Counts as “Important Info”?

Here’s the rule:
If a reasonable person would care about it when buying a home, you need to say it.

Examples:

• Mold in the walls = yes

• A noisy neighbor = maybe

• A small scratch on the wall = no
  

Also—if the buyer asks you about something specific, you have to answer honestly. Even if you weren’t planning on mentioning it.

🚫 What Don’t You Have to Tell?

Arizona says you don’t have to tell buyers about:

• A death in the home 💀

• If someone had a disease like HIV

• If a sex offender lives nearby (but don’t lie if they ask!)
  
  

💥 What Happens If You Don’t Disclose?

If you hide something serious, here’s what could happen:

• The buyer can sue you after closing 😵

• You may have to pay for repairs... or worse, cancel the whole sale

• You could end up in court paying thousands 💸
  

Moral of the story? Honesty is cheaper than court fees.

🕒 When Do You Give the SPDS?

Usually, you must give the buyer the form within 3 to 5 days after they accept your offer.

And if something changes before closing (like a new roof leak), you MUST update them. Always. 🙌

🧠 Pro Tips for Sellers

✅ Be honest
✅ Don’t guess—if you don’t know, say so
✅ Attach any repair receipts or inspection reports
✅ Talk to your real estate agent if you’re unsure