Due diligence. It’s a term we use often that covers a TON of ground. Many buyers may understand the due diligence that comes after an accepted offer: conducting inspections and reviewing the property disclosures and preliminary title report. But a lot of due diligence can be done prior to making an offer (or seeing a home). Here are some ways to do research ahead of time and avoid a possible headache later.
Check the tax record. Your agent can access a property’s tax record on the RMLS. The tax record gives a lot of key information about a property. Most importantly, you can compare the number of beds, baths, and square feet on the tax record vs what is being advertised. This may be an indication that some of the finished rooms or bathrooms are un-permitted. Plus, you can verify property taxes and learn if the owner is an individual(s) or a business entity, which may impact your offer strategy and terms. (Take your sleuthing to the next level by googling the sellers).
Research recent and historical permits. PortlandMaps is a useful tool for properties in Portland, and GreshamMap and Milwaukie Permit Search can be used for properties in those areas. You can see what permits have been pulled for a property in the recent past (10-20 years), as well as historical permits for plumbing, cesspools, and/or underground storage tanks.
Check zoning. The above sites (along with WashingtonMaps and ClackamasMaps) can also tell you what kind of zoning a property is in. Zoning tells you what can be built on the property as well as what the intended use of a property is. A bit of research on a county’s zoning department website can usually turn up pages and pages of zoning code that you never thought you’d be looking through.
Historical District or Designation? While most homes are not in a historical district, if you’re looking to purchase in neighborhoods like Irvington or Laurelhurst, you’ll want to study up on what is required of homes in these areas.
HOA or CCRS? If the property is part of a Home Owners Association, or is subject to Codes Covenants & Restrictions, you may be able to learn more about what is and is not allowed at a property. While these will definitely come up during your due diligence period, your agent may be able to help you get your hands on these documents prior to making an offer.
Check Oregon DEQ databases. If there is a historical permit for an underground heating oil tank and the Seller has no proof of decommissioning, you can check with DEQ. This DEQ page contains 2 links to 2 databases: a list of decommissioned tanks that were not leaking, and a second list with decommissioned tanks that were.
Review past listings. As your agent if there are any past listings on the RMLS for a property. If there are (and if they come with photos – many listings prior to 2010 had a lot fewer photos than we are allowed now), you may be able to tell a lot about what was done (and what wasn’t!) since the last time the property sold.
Ask for past inspection reports. If the property sold recently and the Sellers are willing to share, you can see what came up in the previous inspection. While this can be useful, I ALWAYS strongly encourage a buyer to conduct their own inspections once in contract.
Research schools. And I don’t mean by looking at the rating that an online school ranking website gives you. As a previous public school teacher of many years, I will be the first to tell you there is SO much more to a school than what standardized tests will tell. Look at the school websites, reach out to the PTA/PTO, schedule a tour (this may not be an option during COVID), and if possible, talk to families who attend the school. If you don’t know how to get in contact, see if your agent can reach out to their fellow agents to see who has clients who might be able to share their experiences.
The old fashioned drive-by. This one is classic…I like to tell my clients, you can change the house, but you have no control over the neighbors. Save even more time by utilizing Google street-view and ruling out properties without even having to drive past them.
These are just a few ways my buyers and I educate ourselves before touring a property. If you have questions about any of these resources, I am always happy to chat! Happy house-hunting!