Due Diligence

Due diligence is the difference between an underwriting win and an operating loss. These guides cover access, soils, off-site costs, and the patterns we see across hundreds of deals.

17 guides in Due Diligence

• Can I Build an ADU on My Property? 7 Things to Verify First

  An ADU may be possible, but space alone is not permission. Verify zoning, recorded restrictions, utilities, financing documents, and permits before relying on the plan.
  8 min
• How to Review Land Documents Before Buying Land

  Review deeds, plats, easements, listings, and county documents before buying land—identify what each one appears to say, what is missing, and which facts must be verified.
  9 min
• “Site Plan Approved” Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

  An approved site plan can raise a property’s value and still leave critical questions unanswered. Here is what to verify before underwriting land that a listing calls approved.
  6 min
• Land Due Diligence: How to Check Land Records Before You Buy

  Learn which land records to check before buying, what maps and deeds can tell you, and which access and building questions still need verification. Includes Fremont County, Colorado examples.
  7 min
• How to Check a Vacant Land Title Before You Buy

  Learn where to start researching vacant-land title, what to check in a preliminary report or commitment, and which questions to ask before closing.
  9 min
• Is This Vacant Land Really Buildable? What to Verify Before You Buy

  Is vacant land really buildable? Check zoning, legal access, utilities, septic and flood risk, then organize what still needs verification before buying.
  5 min
• How to Research a Zillow Land Listing

  Watch how to turn an online land listing into a saved property review in LandGauge.
  9 min
• How to Find and Research Vacant Land with LandGauge

  Found land online, heard about it, or drove past it? Identify the parcel, investigate listing claims, explore preliminary numbers, and keep your property research together.
  8 min
• Who Should You Talk to Before Buying Land to Split?

  Before buying land to split into two or three lots, learn what to ask a land broker, planning office, surveyor, and title company.
  7 min
• How to Read a Land Survey: Boundaries, Notes & Access

  Learn how to read a land survey: identify parcel boundaries, understand surveyor notes, and investigate the road shown before relying on access claims.
  5 min
• Is Your Existing Survey Enough Before Developing or Subdividing Land?

  Before developing or subdividing land, learn how to judge whether an existing survey is sufficient—using a real anonymized fence-versus-boundary example.
  6 min
• Vacant Land Due Diligence Starts With Your Investment Goal

  Most buyers think vacant-land due diligence begins with zoning, access, utilities, or comparable sales. Those checks matter, but they are not the real starting point.
  4 min
• How to Tell if Land is Buildable: A Step-by-Step Due Diligence Guide

  A practical, twelve-point framework for evaluating whether a vacant parcel can realistically support a home or small development — before you make an offer.
  14 min
• Common Land Due Diligence Mistakes

  The mistakes that turn underwriting wins into operating losses — and how to avoid them.
  5 min
• Land Due Diligence Checklist

  A working checklist for every vacant land deal — access, utilities, zoning, soils, and exit.
  4 min
• The 5 Phone Calls That Can Kill a Land Deal

  How a few conversations before closing can save you thousands of dollars — and months of frustration.
  9 min
• Who Pays for a Property Survey—Buyer or Seller?

  Who pays for a property survey depends on why it is needed. Compare buyer due diligence, seller-created parcel splits, owner development costs, and negotiated exceptions.
  9 min

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