Section 01
Title and survey come first
A current real property report or survey, read alongside title, establishes exactly where private ownership ends and whether easements, rights of way or caveats affect the land.
Everything downstream — setbacks, buildable area, encroachments — depends on this answer, so it should be obtained first rather than last.
Section 02
Establish the top-of-bank and the setback
The buildable envelope is defined from the surveyed top-of-bank, not from the rear property line. Where an existing house predates current requirements, its position may not be reproducible.
If any future project matters to you — addition, pool, garage, rebuild — establish feasibility during conditions.
Section 03
Geotechnical review is proportionate, not exotic
A qualified geotechnical opinion on slope condition and any prior movement is a normal expense for an escarpment property and is far cheaper than remediation.
Ask whether previous studies exist; many valley properties have a file from a past project that can be updated rather than recreated.
Section 04
Drainage, grading and vegetation
Inspect where roof water, weeping tile and surface runoff actually go, and confirm the lot's grading status with the City where recent work has occurred.
Vegetation on and below the bank often performs a stabilising function; removals should be understood before they are planned.
Section 05
Structure the conditions to match the sequence
Allow enough time for survey retrieval, an engineer's site visit and a report. A compressed condition period on an escarpment property is a false economy.
Where a seller has already assembled this documentation, the process shortens considerably — which is itself a reason sellers should prepare it.