Six vital due diligence questions for BC homebuyers
Buying a home is exciting — but it’s also one of the biggest legal and financial decisions you’ll make. No single search, report, or inspection tells you everything about a property. Real due diligence means looking at it from every angle before you commit.
We’ve broken it down into six pieces of the puzzle. Together, they help answer the question every buyer should ask before removing subjects: what have I actually checked, and what haven’t I?
Watch: Putting the Property Puzzle Together
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The Six Pieces of the Puzzle
Who owns it, and who else has rights over it?
Check: title searches and registered documents.
Title searches show the registered owner(s) and list mortgages, liens, covenants, rights of way and other registered interests. Sometimes you need to order the documents registered on title to understand what those entries actually mean.
Where does the property actually begin and end?
Check: survey certificates, registered plans and physical review.
A fence, hedge or driveway doesn’t prove where the legal boundary lies. Surveys and plans help identify boundaries, access and possible encroachments.
What physical problems might come with the home?
Check: property inspections and specialist reports.
A title search can’t tell you whether the roof leaks, the wiring is unsafe, or the foundation is failing. Inspections help identify issues with the home’s physical condition — and you might need a specialist for things like wells, fireplaces or electrical systems.
Can you use or alter it the way you want?
Check: zoning, bylaws and permit records.
Just because a property is being used a certain way now doesn’t mean that’s a lawful use. Check whether past renovations were permitted, and whether your plans — a suite, a business, a rental, a carriage house — are actually allowed.
What bills, contracts and continuing costs come with the property?
Check: tax, utility and strata searches; contracts.
Investigate property taxes, utilities, strata fees and levies, rented equipment, and other continuing obligations. Not every financial issue affecting a property appears on its title.
Can you insure it, and at what cost?
Check: insurance policies and binders.
Confirm suitable insurance is available before removing subjects. Location, previous damage, building systems and other risk factors can affect what coverage is available and what it costs.
Putting it all together
Each investigation answers a different question. Due diligence can’t remove every risk — but it can help you understand exactly what you’re getting when you buy your dream home.
Before you remove subjects: ask what has been checked, and what hasn’t. Are you comfortable with what you know?
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