A Real Property Report, or RPR for short, is a legal document consisting of a survey of a property and structures relative to the property’s boundaries drafted by a professional land surveying company. It also shows other details such as utility plans, easements, water drainage restrictions, and written statements detailing the surveyor’s opinions or concerns. When and why you need an RPR depends on your specific circumstances, but you typically need one when buying a property, selling a property, or taking out financing secured against your home. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these situations entails.
RPRs for Home Buyers
RPRs are extremely important when buying a home. After all, you want to know exactly what you’re buying, right? RPRs are high-level drawings of the entire property, meaning they give you the full picture of its legal boundaries (the property line), and any existing buildings or other structures.
Why are RPRs so important for homebuyers? For starters, it’s not unheard of for fences, or exterior structures to encroach onto neighboring land. This could mean that the great shed or pool you thought was part of the property you’re buying might actually be partially built on another property, leading to potential legal trouble down the line.
RPRs for home buyers generally also include any building restrictions applicable to the property — essential if you plan on adding any extensions or getting any work done in the future. As a home buyer, make sure you or a real estate lawyer your trust reviews the property RPR before you even consider signing a purchase contract. Whatever you do, never agree to purchase a home or pay any advances before getting a chance to review its RPR.
RPRs for Home Sellers
Just like when buying a property, RPRs for homeowners selling their property are worth their weight in gold. An RPR will give you a better idea of your property’s boundary lines and any areas you may (unintentionally) be encroaching upon. RPRs are especially important when selling your home through an agency, and your RPR will typically be one of the first things a prospective real estate agent will request. This is to protect both you and them against any possible legal issues when it’s time to make the sale and helps them give their clients a better representation of the property.
Moreover, most Alberta real estate purchase and sale agreements require the seller to provide the buyer with a recent RPR as standard. This will most certainly be the case if your buyer involves a lawyer, real estate agency, or a finance institution in the transaction.
RPRs for Financing
Last but not least, you’ll typically need an RPR when taking out a mortgage or loan secured against your property. RPRs for financing are the bank or lender’s way of confirming that the property is within its boundaries, that no improvements or structures encroach onto other properties, and ensures their investment is safe.
As we mentioned earlier, any structures built beyond property boundaries can cause legal issues. In the eyes of the lender, this plays a huge part in determining the value of your home and whether there will be any complications later on since anything that doesn’t comply with Alberta municipal bylaws can significantly impact the value of your property.
Real Property Reports in Calgary
Whether looking to buy, sell, or obtain financing on your home, getting an RPR done by a professional land surveying company can save you unnecessary stress, time, and money in the long run. At Arc Surveys, we’ve been serving Calgary and the surrounding communities since 2012 and offer a full range of surveying services for small to midsized clients. Get in touch with us today to request a free quote on your next RPR.
