La Jolla · Buyer guides · Checklist

My coastal buyer checklist: every check I run, in order

Short answer: Due diligence is the homework you do on a home after your offer is accepted and before the sale is final. On the coast, I break it into five steps: the house itself, the permits, the coastal rules, insurance, and the papers. Each step below links to my full guide.

Here’s every check I run with buyers on the coast, in order. You don’t have to remember it all. That’s my job. But it helps to see the whole path before you start, so nothing feels like a surprise.

Most of these checks happen during your contingency period: the window in your contract when you can still ask for repairs, or back out, based on what you learn.

I’m Weston Clark, Founding Member of the Dickinson-Clark Team at Compass. I walk buyers in La Jolla and coastal San Diego through each of these checks, one at a time, in plain words. You can talk about fees with Weston directly. This form does not give a commission quote.

Talk to Weston Jump to FAQ Home inspection guide

Related: Home inspection · Disclosures · Contingencies · Title insurance · Guides · La Jolla · View rights · Oceanfront vs ocean view · Permit history · Reserve study

Step 1: The house itself

I start with the house, because the other checks build on what we find. Here’s the order I like:

• General home inspection. A home inspector looks at the roof, plumbing, wiring, heating and more. See my home inspection guide.
• Termite report. Near the ocean, wood takes a beating. My termite report guide explains what the report covers.
• Pool and spa. If there’s a pool, there are state rules on barriers. See my pool guide.
• Smoke alarms and water heater. These are small items with state rules. See my smoke alarm and water heater guide.

If the inspector flags something, we may bring in a specialist, like a roofer or a soils engineer, before we decide what to ask for. Then I’ll help you decide what to ask the seller to fix, and what to let go.

Step 2: Permits and past work

Next, I compare the house to the city’s permit files. If a room, a deck or a garage conversion was added, I want to know whether the city signed off on it.

Work done without a permit isn’t always a deal breaker. But it can affect insurance, future remodels and resale. My unpermitted work guide explains your choices. If you plan to remodel later, read my remodel rules guide and, for older homes, my historic review guide.

Thinking about a guest house or a granny flat? My ADU guide covers accessory dwelling units, which are small second homes on the same lot.

Step 3: Coastal rules, bluffs and views

Near the water, the state has a say in what you can build. The California Coastal Commission, the state agency that guards the coast, and the city share that job. My coastal rules guide explains how.

If the home sits on or near a bluff, I’d read my bluff homes guide with you. Bluff homes can come with extra reports and limits on new work.

Views matter too. A view you enjoy today isn’t always protected tomorrow. I’ll help you look at what could change it before you buy.

Step 4: Insurance, early

I ask buyers to call an insurance agent in the first days, not the last. On the coast, getting a quote can take work, and it can shape your whole decision.

• Fire. See my fire insurance guide for fire maps and how to shop.
• Flood. Lenders may require it in some zones. See my flood insurance guide.
• Earthquake. It’s a separate policy. See my earthquake insurance guide.

Then there’s title insurance, which protects you if someone later claims a right to the property. See my title insurance guide.

Step 5: The papers, the money and the move

• Seller disclosures. These are the forms where the seller tells you what they know about the home. Read every page. See my disclosures guide.
• The homeowners association. If there’s an HOA (homeowners association), read its rules, budget and meeting notes. See my HOA guide and condo guide.
• Property taxes. Your tax bill can change when you buy. See my property tax guide.
• Renting it out? Check the rules first in my short-term rental guide.
• Wiring money. Always call escrow, the neutral company that holds the money, at a number you trust. See my wire fraud guide.

How I keep it all on track

I keep one shared list for each home, with each check, who’s doing it and what we found. You’ll always know what’s done and what’s next. My contingencies guide explains the deadlines in your contract, and my escrow guide covers the steps after that.

You make every call. My part is to make sure you have what you need to make it well.

This checklist is general information. It’s not legal, tax or insurance advice. For those, talk with a real estate lawyer, a tax pro or a licensed insurance agent.

More on sandiego.homes

• Home inspection: what a general inspection covers
• Termite report: wood damage and what the report says
• Unpermitted work: what to do when past work had no permit
• Disclosures: the forms where sellers share what they know
• Coastal rules: how the state and city share coastal permits
• HOA: rules, budgets and papers for shared buildings
• Contingencies: your contract windows to check and decide
• Guides · La Jolla

Talk with Weston about a home you’re looking at

Tell me about the home and where you are in the process. I’ll help you map out the checks, in order, with no pressure.

Or call (858) 997-8998 · weston@sandiego.homes · Search on Compass

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Have another question? Quick answers to common questions

Sources

• CA DRE — Disclosures in Real Property Transactions (RE 6)
• CA DRE — Consumers
• California Coastal Commission
• California Department of Insurance — Residential insurance guides
• City of San Diego Development Services — Records