Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure - AVID - Information

What is the Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure?

When you are selling a home or buying a property in California you will come across lots of disclosure documents including the Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure also called AVID. We’d have information about the AVID, and are excited to share it today. Check out the short video by Santa Barbara Group member and veteran Realtor, Joe Parker.

Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure — Overview

When an agent takes a new listing, he or she is required to walk the property and note any items seen that might warrant further inspections by a home buyer. It is not a professional review as done by a licensed home inspector; it is simply a visual probe. Let’s take a look at what the agent is expected to do and not do during his examination.

The agent walks around the property, both inside and outside looking for things like:

• Interior wall, ceiling, and flooring cracks.
• Exterior cracks in walkways and driveways.
• Trip hazards.
• Stain on walls, ceilings, and floors.
• Wall damage.
• Obvious items that could be of concern to a potential buyer.
• The agent may take pictures that can be attached to the disclosure form.

What the agent does not do during his or her visual inspection and report.

• The agent will not test appliances, HVAC systems, pool equipment, electrical or plumbing systems.
• Do anything beyond a visual examination. Nothing is turned on or off, no toilets flushed, no appliances tested.
• Quantify or qualify what the agent sees. For example, the agent may see several cracks in the walls. He or she will likely only note on the disclosure form, “wall cracks.” The reason is simple, what one person considers “several” another might not.
• Explain how the observed item came to be.

When Does A Home Buyer Receive The Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure?

California law is a little vague about when a buyer will receive property disclosures. It states, “in a timely manner.” Generally speaking, expect disclosures soon after the offer is accepted and escrow opened. The home seller will have filled about the “Transfer Disclosure Statement” (TDS), and the Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure is attached to the end of that document.

Additional Disclosure Questions

Disclosure is an important topic. The Santa Barbara Group’s agents are more than happy to answer your questions, just like they’ve done for hundreds of others. They feel an informed client is a safe and happy one. Just give them a call (see the bottom of this page) or send them an email at Info@TheSantaBarbaraGroup.com.

Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure – Explanation Video by Joe Parker

If we can help you with questions or help, please know we would be honored to be your go-to Realtors.

Joe Parker & Garrett McCaw
The Santa Barbara Group