For Home Sellers

An Uninsurable Home Is a Hard Home to Sell.

Deals die when buyers can’t bind insurance. In wildfire zones, your home’s insurability is part of its value—prepare it before you list, clear defensible-space disclosure requirements early, and hand the next owner a documented, coverable home.

What kills sales in wildfire zones

Buyers’ insurance quotes come back sky-high—or not at all—right before closing

In High/Very High fire zones, California law (AB 38 / Civil Code §1102.19) requires sellers to provide defensible-space compliance documentation—or a written agreement that the buyer will obtain it within a year of closing

Inspection-period surprises become price reductions and credits

Homes that linger get stigmatized, especially after local fire activity

List a home buyers can actually insure

Pre-listing hardening is one of the few improvements that removes a closing risk, satisfies legal requirements, and adds a marketable selling point all at once.

Clear the AB 38 hurdle early

Request the local or CAL FIRE defensible-space inspection before listing, fix gaps while you still control the timeline, and avoid a last-minute buyer agreement that shifts risk mid-escrow.

A 90/60/30-day plan

A sequenced pre-listing action plan: highest-impact hardening first, verification and documentation as you approach list day.

A record that transfers

Your home’s Cindera Score and verified hardening history transfer to the buyer—a concrete answer to their insurance question.

Stand out in a risk-aware market

“Wildfire-hardened, documented, and insurable” is a differentiator buyers and their agents understand immediately.

Need help with insurance now?

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How Cindera works

1

Create your account

Get started free in under a minute—no score required to begin.

2

Add your home

Enter your address in the app to unlock your readiness score and plan.

3

Work your action plan

DIY or vetted vendors—upload photo proof as you go.

4

Unlock the payoffs

Grants, matching dollars, and better insurance options.

Frequently asked questions

What is AB 38 / Civil Code §1102.19 and does it apply to my sale?

If your home is in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, California AB 38 (Civil Code §1102.19) requires you to provide the buyer with documentation that the property complies with state or local defensible-space requirements. If that documentation isn’t available by closing, you and the buyer must agree in writing that the buyer will obtain it within one year. The inspection process varies by jurisdiction—confirm specifics with your agent or escrow officer. Cindera helps you get the property ready and documented so the inspection isn’t a scramble; official compliance docs still come from CAL FIRE or your local fire agency.

Do I also have to disclose home-hardening features?

For homes built before January 1, 2010 in High or Very High fire zones, Civil Code §1102.6f requires a wildfire vulnerability disclosure. As of July 1, 2025, that notice must also include the State Fire Marshal’s low-cost retrofit list and which items you completed during ownership. A verified Cindera hardening record makes that disclosure straightforward—and gives buyers proof, not just a checklist.

Will hardening actually increase my sale price?

The clearest effect is on certainty: buyers who can get reasonably priced insurance are more likely to close at your price. A documented, insurable home also avoids the inspection-period credits and price cuts that uninsurable homes face.

How early should I start before listing?

90 days is comfortable for most homes; even 30 focused days covers high-impact items like Zone 0 clearance and vent upgrades. Enter your address to see what your specific home needs.

What does the buyer get?

The home’s verified hardening record and score history—so the next owner starts with proof, not promises. It’s a closing gift that genuinely matters in a wildfire zone.

Listing soon? Get started first

Create a free account and get your defensible-space / AB 38 readiness and pre-listing action plan.