Seller preparedness checklist

What to gather before listing through closing — grouped by who needs it.

Selling involves your listing agent, the state-required disclosure paperwork, your CPA (for the capital-gains side), and a closing professional or attorney. Some of these documents — especially the basis records and capital-improvement receipts on a long-held home — are easier to gather earlier than later. The checklist below covers what most US residential sales require. Items tagged "if applicable" only matter for specific situations (HOAs, prior rentals, lead-based paint, etc.).