When marketing an older home with potential lead-based paint hazards, what documentation or access should be provided to buyers?

• A. Disclose hazards and provide access to federal disclosure forms and information.
• B. Provide the seller's own internal notes only.
• C. Disclose hazards verbally only.
• D. Provide hazard information only after closing.

Answer: (C)

The important rule here is that when selling an older home with potential lead-based paint hazards, disclosure must be in writing and include access to the federally mandated materials. Sellers are required to inform buyers of known lead-based paint or hazards and provide the buyer with the EPA’s lead-based paint disclosure forms and the informational pamphlet, Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home. This creates an official, documented record that the buyer has received the necessary information before completing the purchase. The buyer also has a right to have a lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment, typically within a set period, but the core requirement is the written disclosure plus access to the federal forms and information.

Providing only internal notes, or disclosing information verbally, or waiting until after closing fails to meet these requirements. Internal notes aren’t shared with the buyer, verbal disclosures don’t create the required written record, and delaying the information until after closing deprives the buyer of essential information during the decision-making process. So the correct approach is to disclose hazards and provide access to the federal disclosure forms and information.