An initial land review should separate visible site conditions, items requiring measurement and legal or technical matters for authorised professionals.
What to check
Use this list as a starting point. The depth of review should still match the project stage, decision value, documents and risks.
- Confirm physical access, boundaries, orientation, contour, vegetation, water flow and surroundings.
- Check how materials, equipment, workers and emergency vehicles can reach the site.
- Map cut and fill, retaining, drainage, utilities, storage and temporary-facility needs.
- Compare the building concept with the land form before estimating usable area.
- Coordinate legal, planning, geotechnical, topographic, structural and permit reviews as needed.
Questions before deciding
A useful answer should be traceable to documents, site conditions, a responsible party or a clearly stated assumption boundary.
- Which data is verified and which remains an assumption?
- Which preparation work is hidden from the land price?
- Which professionals should be involved before a transaction?
How to document the outcome
Record information sources, review dates, documents read, people interviewed, inaccessible conditions, key findings, decisions, owners and follow-up deadlines. Separate facts, third-party statements, assumptions and recommendations.
For legal, structural, geotechnical, tax, permitting, land, design or specialist-testing decisions, use appropriately authorised and qualified professionals.
This article is general educational guidance. Project, contract, land, building and legal conditions vary and may require a specific review.