Section 01
The fence is not the boundary
On ravine lots, fences are commonly placed where the ground is workable rather than where the survey line falls, which produces long-standing informal encroachments onto public land.
A survey resolves this before it becomes the buyer's compliance problem.
Section 02
Water behaviour on a short slope
Look for erosion channels at the crest, exposed roots, tilting fences, and downspouts discharging toward the slope.
Where signs are present, a professional opinion during conditions is proportionate; where the lot is well managed, that will be visible too.
Section 03
Trees are the amenity and the constraint
The canopy is why the lot is desirable, and much of it may be on public land or protected. Assume nothing about removal or heavy pruning.
Buyers intending to open a sightline should confirm feasibility with the City before purchasing on that basis.
Section 04
Assess privacy in the other season
Deciduous cover transforms a ravine lot between summer and winter. Both conditions should be understood before committing.
Requesting photographs from the opposite season, or visiting neighbouring streets, is a reasonable and cheap check.
Section 05
Decks, pools and additions near the crest
Structures near a slope crest attract setback and engineering requirements similar in kind to escarpment properties, if smaller in scale.
Establish what the site can support before budgeting a project, and keep records of anything you build.