The Property Condition and Disclosure Statement (PCDS) is a document completed by the seller prior to listing a property. It is intended to provide the buyer with specific household information. The information provided reflects the current owner’s personal experience with the property since they have owned or occupied the property.

The information given is accurate to the best of the current owner’s knowledge. Buyers should keep in mind that most home owners are not contractors and may not be aware that certain issues exist in the home, even though to others it may appear blatantly obvious. The PCDS is not intended to replace an inspection of the home by a qualified home inspector.

The PCDS covers such items as:

• Sewer or septic systems
• Wells or municipal water systems
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Zoning
• Structural issues
• Land/lot issues
• Environmental concerns
• Heating
• Covenant/Warranties
• Others as may arise
• Remedies to problems that may have occurred and were corrected

Problems may exist that the current home owner is unwilling to correct due to time or monetary constraints. These are often a matter of negotiation during the sale process. These situations are very rare.

The buyer is given several days to review the PCDS and is required to sign the statement after they have read and accepted its contents. Signing the document does not mean you give up your right question items within the statement, it simply states that you were presented with the statement and acknowledge that you have dealt with all the issues involved and are satisfied with the outcomes. It is incumbent upon your agent to deal with any issues that arise as a result of the PCDS prior to your signing of the document.