Selling fast
Documents You Need to Sell Your House for Cash (Complete Checklist)
Updated 8 min read4 cited sources
Short answer
To sell a house for cash you usually need a government photo ID for every owner, a copy of the deed, a mortgage payoff statement, recent property tax bills, HOA contact and payoff details if you have an HOA, and any required seller disclosures. Estates also need a death certificate and court papers such as letters testamentary. Divorces need the decree.
Key takeaways
- Every owner on the deed needs a valid photo ID and must sign, or someone with legal authority must sign for them.
- Request your mortgage payoff statement early. Servicers have up to seven business days to send it.
- Homes built before 1978 need a federal lead-based paint disclosure, even in an as-is cash sale.
- Estates, divorces and trusts need extra papers that prove who has the right to sell.
What documents do you need to sell a house for cash?
For a standard cash sale, you need photo ID for each owner, your deed, a mortgage payoff statement, recent tax bills, HOA information if you have an HOA, and any disclosures your state requires. Cash sales need fewer papers than financed sales because there is no buyer's lender, but title still has to be proven and cleared.
Gathering these early is the single easiest way to speed up closing. Here is the core checklist.
The core checklist for every cash sale
These documents apply to nearly every seller. The "who provides it" column tells you where to get anything you do not have.
| Document | Why it is needed | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Government photo ID for each owner | Notary must verify identity at signing | Driver's license, state ID or passport |
| Copy of your deed | Shows who owns the house and the legal description | Your files or the county recorder's office |
| Mortgage payoff statement | Exact amount to pay off your loan on the closing date | Your loan servicer (title company can request it) |
| Home equity loan or HELOC payoff | Second loans must be paid off too | That lender |
| Recent property tax bill | Confirms taxes paid and sets proration | County tax office or your records |
| Homeowners insurance details | Some buyers ask, and you cancel after closing | Your insurer |
| Seller disclosure form, if required | State law may require it, even as-is | Title company, attorney or state form |
| Lead-based paint disclosure (built before 1978) | Required by federal law for most older homes | Standard federal form, from the title company |
| HOA contact and payoff letter | Dues and transfer requirements | Your HOA or management company |
| Utility account info | Final readings and shutoff or transfer | Your utility bills |
| Keys, garage openers, codes | Handed over at closing | You |
| Bank details for your proceeds | Where the title company sends your money | Your bank (give it by phone or in person) |
A few notes on the items that cause the most trouble:
- Payoff statement. Federal rules require your servicer to send it within a reasonable time and no more than seven business days after a written request. Ask for it on day one.
- Lead paint. For most housing built before 1978, sellers must disclose known lead-based paint and hazards, hand over any reports, give the buyer the EPA pamphlet and include a warning statement in the contract, per the EPA's disclosure rule. Buyers normally get a 10-day chance to test, which they can waive in writing.
- Bank details. Never send wire instructions by email. Wire fraud near closing is common. See how to spot cash home buyer scams.
What extra documents do you need to sell an inherited house?
To sell a house you inherited, you usually need the death certificate and proof that you have legal authority to sell, such as letters testamentary or letters of administration from the probate court. The exact papers depend on how the house was owned and your state's laws.
| Situation | Usual documents |
|---|---|
| Will goes through probate | Death certificate, letters testamentary (executor named in will) |
| No will, probate needed | Death certificate, letters of administration |
| House held in a living trust | Death certificate, trust document or certificate of trust, successor trustee ID |
| Transfer-on-death deed (where allowed) | Death certificate, the recorded TOD deed, sometimes an affidavit |
| Joint owner with right of survivorship | Death certificate, sometimes an affidavit of survivorship |
| Multiple heirs | Signatures or consent from each heir, or a court order |
Probate rules differ a lot by state. A probate attorney can tell you what your county requires. See selling an inherited house and selling a house in probate.
What documents do you need for divorce, trusts or special situations?
Special situations need papers that show who can sign. The most common:
- Divorce: the divorce decree or settlement agreement, especially any part about selling the house. Both spouses on the deed usually sign. See selling during divorce.
- Power of attorney: the original or certified copy of the power of attorney. The title company will review it ahead of time, and some require specific wording.
- Name change: a marriage certificate or court order if your name differs from the name on the deed.
- LLC or company owner: the operating agreement or a resolution showing who can sign, plus proof the company is in good standing.
- Tenants: copies of all leases, security deposit records and rent roll. See selling with tenants.
- Liens or judgments: any payoff letters, release letters or settlement agreements. See liens or back taxes.
- Foreclosure: your most recent mortgage statement and any foreclosure notices with sale dates. See facing foreclosure.
- Bankruptcy: your case number and your bankruptcy attorney's contact. Court approval may be needed.
Which documents are helpful but not required?
Helpful documents can raise buyer confidence and reduce price cuts after a walkthrough. Share them if you have them:
- Past inspection reports
- Receipts for a new roof, HVAC, water heater or other big repairs
- Building permits for additions or remodels
- Survey or plot plan
- Warranty paperwork for appliances or systems
- Utility cost history
- A list of known problems
Being upfront about problems is worth it. A buyer who finds a hidden issue during the inspection period may cut the price or walk away, which costs you time.
What will you get at closing?
At closing you should receive a settlement statement showing the price, every payoff and fee, and your net proceeds. Keep it. You will also usually get copies of the signed deed and closing documents.
The closing agent typically reports the sale to the IRS on Form 1099-S. Whether you owe tax depends on your situation. If it was your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, if you meet the rules in IRS Publication 523. Talk to a tax professional before you sell if the gain is large or the house was a rental or inherited.
How can you get offers while you gather paperwork?
You do not need every document before you ask for offers. You can request offers while you gather paperwork, and share the details with the buyer you choose.
One option is Cash Offer Desk, which makes written as-is cash offers in the areas where it buys. In many deals it assigns its purchase contract to an investor partner, and it tells you that up front, in writing. Sellers never pay a fee (how we make money). We are not an agent or law firm, so questions about what your state requires should go to the title company or a real estate attorney. Check your state guide for local notes, and see how fast you can close a cash sale once your papers are ready.
Common questions
What if I lost my deed?
Do I need a home inspection report to sell for cash?
Do cash sales still require seller disclosures?
Who prepares the deed for a cash sale?
Will I get any tax forms after the sale?
Sources
- 1.CFPB Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.36(c)(3): payoff statements
- 2.EPA: Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (Section 1018 of Title X)
- 3.IRS: About Form 1099-S, Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions
- 4.IRS Publication 523: Selling Your Home
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and company policies change; check the sources and talk to a local real estate attorney or tax professional about your situation.