Property Due Diligence Checklist
Protect your clients from costly surprises. This comprehensive checklist ensures thorough due diligence on every property.
What's Included
Thorough due diligence separates professional buyer's agents from amateurs. Missing a critical issue can cost your client hundreds of thousands of dollars and destroy your reputation. This checklist ensures nothing is missed.
This checklist covers:
- Title and ownership verification
- Zoning and planning checks
- Building and pest inspection requirements
- Strata report analysis (for units)
- Flood, bushfire, and environmental risks
- Infrastructure and development plans
- Rental appraisal verification (for investors)
- Contract review essentials
- Settlement preparation checklist
Key due diligence categories
Legal and title checks
Verify ownership, check for caveats and encumbrances, review easements and covenants. Understand what your client is actually buying and any restrictions on the property's use or development.
Physical condition
Building and pest inspections are non-negotiable, but know what to look for beyond the report. Age of major systems (roof, hot water, electrical), signs of structural issues, and potential maintenance costs.
Strata due diligence
For units and townhouses, the strata report is crucial. Review financial health, upcoming special levies, body corporate minutes, and any disputes. A bad strata situation can turn a good unit into a nightmare.
Location and planning
Check council zoning, heritage overlays, and proposed developments nearby. What looks like a quiet street might have a multi-storey development approved next door. Infrastructure plans can add value or create problems.
Common issues this checklist catches
Unpermitted works
Extensions, renovations, or additions done without council approval. Can require costly rectification or create insurance and resale issues. This checklist shows you how to verify all works are approved.
Hidden strata issues
Large special levies coming, building defects under litigation, or poor financial management. The strata report review section helps you identify red flags before your client commits.
Environmental risks
Flood zones, bushfire prone areas, contaminated land, or erosion risks. These affect insurance costs, lending, and future resale. Know the checks to run for different property types and locations.
Who this checklist is for
This checklist is for buyer's agents who want a systematic approach to due diligence. Whether you're established and want to ensure consistency across your team, or newer and building your processes.
It's particularly valuable for buyer's agents expanding into unfamiliar markets or property types, where local knowledge gaps could lead to missed issues.
Download your copy and never miss a critical check.
Property Due Diligence Checklist
Introduction
Your dormant database represents untapped revenue potential. This guide provides proven strategies to re-engage past leads and convert them into booked appointments.
1. Database Segmentation
Start by categorizing your contacts into three tiers based on engagement history and potential value. Focus your initial efforts on...
2. Reactivation Scripts
The key to successful reactivation is leading with value. Here are three proven scripts that have generated...
3. Timing Strategy
Research shows optimal contact times vary by segment. For homeowners...