Methodology
How we research
your acquisition brief.
Your team should be able to follow a finding back to its source. Our research explains what the records support, how we reached a conclusion and what remains unresolved.
Our approach
Your criteria guide
the investigation.
The acquisition brief
We agree the target geography, property type and criteria with you. That includes whether the research concerns one parcel, a site made up of several parcels or a wider property search.
Sources and coverage
We assess the relevant property, planning, mapping and company records. Source dates, access and coverage determine what the research can establish. Material gaps are discussed before we commit to the work.
Records and discrepancies
We bring records together using the available parcel and property identifiers. Uncertain matches, conflicting information and missing fields remain visible in the delivery.
Candidate assessment
We examine how the apparent matches compare with your criteria, including the relevant boundaries and mapped constraints. The findings explain why a candidate merits further work or falls outside the brief.
Findings and follow-up
Your handover includes source references, research dates and field definitions. It distinguishes the findings supported by the records from questions that need an authority, site visit or specialist.
Source discipline
Different records answer
different questions.
These are source categories we may use. Availability, access and reliability are assessed for each jurisdiction and brief.
| Source | Useful for | Does not establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| County assessor & parcel GIS | Parcel identifiers, recorded tax ownership, land and building attributes. | Legal title, current site condition or usable area. |
| Recorded deeds & instruments | Tracing recorded transfers and documents associated with a property. | A complete title opinion or the absence of unrecorded interests. |
| Planning authority & zoning records | Districts, overlays, use definitions and published case history. | Permission for a specific proposed operation without further review. |
| FEMA & local flood mapping | Identifying mapped flood-hazard information for further investigation. | The absence of flood risk or a final insurance determination. |
| State business registers | Entity names, registration status and filed information. | Beneficial ownership or the right person to negotiate a sale. |
| Aerial imagery & other public evidence | Understanding visible layout and corroborating observations. | Current occupancy, legal access, exact boundaries or lawful use. |
Reading a finding
The record.
And what it tells you.
We distinguish information reported by a source from our analysis of it. This shows which conclusions the reviewed records support and which questions need further verification.
What does "industrial" mean here?
The record
A parcel has an industrial tax-use classification.
Our assessment
The classification warrants a closer review against the acquisition brief.
The unresolved question
Does the zoning and approval history allow the buyer’s proposed operation?
Further reading
The questions behind
a property review.
Our research guides explain common gaps in property records and why they matter to an acquisition search.
Your next acquisition
What are you
looking to acquire?
Share the market, property type and question you need answered. Amrit will review your brief and discuss how the research could support your search.
Discuss your property search