What Paperwork Do You Need Before Listing Your Home in Arizona?

Oct 13

Before you list a home in Chandler or Tempe, plan to gather four things: a five-year insurance claims history from your insurance company, a list of improvements you've made, a completed Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS), and a clear list of what stays with the house and what goes with you. Getting these done before the sign goes up keeps you ahead of the Arizona contract deadlines that start the day you accept an offer.

Why gather paperwork before the home is even listed?

Because once you accept an offer, the clock starts. Under the standard Arizona purchase contract, the SPDS is due to the buyer within 3 days, and your insurance claims history is due within 5 days. Those dates count weekends.

Think of it like packing for a trip the night before instead of the morning of. Same suitcase. Much calmer airport.

A late disclosure doesn't usually kill a deal. It does make the buyer's side nervous, and nervous buyers ask for more at inspection. Having everything ready on day one tells them this house has been cared for.

What is an insurance claims history, and how do I get one?

It's a report from your homeowner's insurance company that lists any claims filed on the home. Arizona's standard contract asks for five years of history, or the time you've owned the home if that's shorter. Some insurance companies call it a loss history or an LOE report. Others pull it from a database called C.L.U.E.

To get it, call or email your insurance agent and ask for a "five-year claims history report for the property." They get this request all the time. Even if you've never filed a claim, you still need the report showing zero claims.

One tip: ask for it the same day you decide to sell. Some companies send it in an hour. Some take a week.

What goes on the list of home improvements?

Anything you've updated, replaced, or added, ideally with the year it was done. A new roof, AC units, a pool resurface, a kitchen remodel, new windows, a water heater, solar, a paver patio. Big or small, write it down.

This list does two jobs. It helps your listing, because "new AC in 2024" is a reason to buy. And it helps your disclosure, because buyers and their inspectors will ask about the age of every major system. On older custom homes in South Tempe, this list can be the difference between a buyer who sees "old house" and one who sees "well-kept house."

If you have receipts, permits, or warranties, put them in one folder now. You'll want them again during the inspection period.

How should I fill out the seller's disclosure (SPDS)?

Honestly and completely. The SPDS asks what you know about the home: the roof, plumbing, pests, past repairs, HOA details, and more. If you don't know an answer, write "I don't know" rather than guessing or skipping the question.

If you've never lived in the home, say so in the notes. That's common with rentals and inherited homes, and buyers understand it.

A complete SPDS protects you. The things buyers find surprising are the things that turn into fights. I go deeper on this in what Arizona actually requires you to disclose when you sell.

What stays with the house and what can I take?

As a rule of thumb, things attached to the house usually stay, and things you can pick up and carry usually go. The details matter, though, so make your list before buyers see the home.

Walk through each room and note anything a buyer might assume is staying that isn't. Common ones:

Video doorbells and security cameras
A favorite chandelier or light fixture
Curtains, curtain rods, and wall-mounted TV brackets
Mounted shelves or garage storage racks
The refrigerator, washer, and dryer

If something attached is going with you, the best move is to swap it out before photos. If a buyer never sees it, they never fall in love with it.

What else should sellers plan for before listing?

Keep your utilities on all the way through closing day. Buyers need power and water for the inspection, the appraisal, and the final walkthrough. If you have a tenant moving out, switch utilities into your name before they leave.

If your home is in an HOA, find your management company's name and contact info. The buyer will get the HOA's resale packet during escrow, and it helps when you know who to call.

Then get ready for photo day, which is the next step. My guide to getting your home ready for listing photos walks through it room by room. And if you want to see every step from here to closing in one place, here's the full home selling roadmap.

Quick answers

What documents does a seller need to sell a house in Arizona?

Most Arizona sellers need a Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS), a five-year insurance claims history, HOA information if there is one, and records of any repairs or improvements. Your agent and the title company handle the contract and closing documents.

How long does a seller have to deliver the SPDS in Arizona?

Under the standard Arizona purchase contract, the seller delivers the SPDS within 3 days after the contract is accepted. Filling it out before you list makes that deadline easy.

Do I need a claims history if I never filed an insurance claim?

Yes. The buyer still gets a report, and it simply shows no claims. Ask your insurance company for a five-year claims history report on the property.

If you're thinking about listing and want a hand pulling this together, I'm glad to help. Call or text me at 480-448-2020, or book a time to talk.

Ben Graham

You’ve made it. Now you want a home that finally feels like it.

Since 2011, I’ve helped move-up and move-in buyers do exactly that across South Tempe and South Chandler. More land, more quiet, more character, without leaving the city behind. If you’re buying or selling above $1M in 85284 or 85248, you want an advisor who knows the ground, not a salesperson who knows a script.

That’s the whole job, and it’s the part I love most.

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Ben is a husband, father, and full-time real estate advisor based in Chandler. Since 2011, across more than 500 transactions, he’s guided buyers and sellers through the Southeast Valley’s best neighborhoods.

His approach is simple: teach the market like a teacher, protect your equity like it’s his own, and tell you the truth even when the truth is “wait.” Clear communication, a proven plan, and your interests first.

Most of Ben’s clients fall into two camps.

The move-up buyer who’s outgrown a great starter home in Chandler or Tempe and is ready for something that feels like an arrival. More space, more privacy, more character, same easy access to four freeways, great schools, and Sky Harbor.

The move-in buyer relocating from out of town who needs someone who actually knows which street holds its value and which one only looks like it does.

He also represents sellers across South Tempe and South Chandler who want their home priced right in week one and marketed like the asset it is.

Faith and family are the center of how Ben lives and works. He’s a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father, raising his kids in Chandler with his wife Sarah. The family is active at CCV, the kids attend Valley Christian, and they support foster care and adoption. One of their sons joined the family that way.

Clients often tell Ben his faith is part of why they trusted him with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. He doesn’t take that lightly.

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