Buyer Due Diligence

When you and the seller sign the contract on your home purchase, the buyer due diligence phase begins. Due diligence refers to a buyer's responsibility to investigate the various aspects of a property, either before making an offer or within a specific time frame between entering into the contract and closing.
As your real estate consultants, we will guide you through the process of answering the big question:

will this property fit my needs? 

Inspection Contingency

As part of the contract, you’ll have a specific time period to have the home professionally inspected and also to make any additional inquiries with other professionals - whether contractors, specialty inspectors, or the city or county.
Inspection period is the time you have to walk away from the deal, so if the original 5 or 10 days runs out, we’ll generally need to sign an extension to schedule additional inspections - which is one reason we schedule the home inspection ASAP when the property is under contract. 

Home Inspection

A licensed inspector goes through the house from attic to crawl space and checks all the major systems in the home. It usually takes a few hours, and you as the buyer should plan to attend at least an hour of it (with your agent), where you can ask any questions you might have right then and there. The inspector will then provide a detailed written report, with photographs, that you can reference for your inspection response to the seller (and your own information about what work might need to be done on the property, or additional inspections that may need to take place. 

Other Inspections

Depending on the property, you may need a septic inspection (or getting septic records from seller) or a well inspection. There might be additional specialized inspections based on the first one, for a roof, water leak, foundation issue, or any other hazard that may come up that you'd like to investigate further.

The Goal

The question we’re answering together is: will this property fit my needs? 

If I’m buying a condo, do the condominium CC&Rs allow for renters if I plan to rent out? What are the restrictions on pets? What do the HOA dues cover and how are they paid?

If I’m planning to make an addition or significant renovation, does the zoning allow for it? What permits and permitting cost would be involved?

Is the home in my preferred school district and school attendance area?

What deferred maintenance, repairs or renovations will be needed after I purchase the home? Do I need quotes from contractors before moving forward with my purchase?

Some of these questions are answered by your home inspection, but you should expect to do some background research, whether with the City, the County, the local HOA, or other professionals.

City & County Resources

Whatcom County - Zoning Map, Land Use Code, and Comprehensive Plan

Whatcom County Assessor - Property Search

  Whatcom County Online OSS/Water Source Records

  Department of Ecology - Water Source Records 

Whatcom County - Property Document Search

 BELLINGHAM

City of Bellingham - Permit Search (1997+) 

City of Bellingham - Permit Apps and Info

City of Bellingham - Zoning Map, Land Use Code, and Comprehensive Plan

City of Bellingham - Neighborhood Map and Neighborhood Plans  

City of Bellingham - School Attendance Maps 

City of Bellingham - Landlord & Tenant Resources

City of Bellingham - ADUs

BLAINE

City of Blaine - Permitting
City of Blaine - Zoning Map, Land Use Code,  Comprehensive Plan, and Resort Semiahmoo Comprehensive Plan and More Maps

City of Blaine - Shoreline Management Master Program

City of Blaine - Schools

City of Blaine - ADUs

Resources are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Links are considered the most up to date at the time of publishing, but linked PDFs may become outdated periodically. For properties in other Whatcom County municipalities, there will be corresponding resources, and we’re happy to send you a list!

It’s important to be an informed buyer. Every property has its own story and may or may not be a fit for your specific needs. The inspection period is the prime time to get all your questions answered and create a roadmap for moving forward, and your Cohen Group NW consultant will be walking you through every step of the process. 

Questions? Contact our Concierge at tiffany@cohengroupnw.com and she’ll direct you to the right person on the team!