Purchasing or leasing a property or land is a big process and an even bigger decision. So before you make such a decision, you must be sure that the place is exactly what you want. There must be no doubts about whether it is a good place, whether you are paying the right price, or whether there are things that you still do not know.
In such cases, knowing everything you need about the estate is usually in your best interest. After all, you do not want to come across new information after purchasing or even closing the deal. So, it’s best to be preemptive about such things. Now, you might be new to the process and might not know how to go about finding this information. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we help you know the history of any property in a few straightforward ways. Let’s jump right into it.
White Pages Websites
White pages websites are a go-to place for the current generation. Unlike previous generations who did not access the internet much, people now are quick to go online and do the necessary research. One of the ways they do so is by leveraging the aggregator platforms such as white pages sites. These monitor and organize data from different public sources to give us results and reports which are streamlined and easy to go through.
You can access these websites with just a few clicks and get all the necessary information. It is one of the most sought-after methods because, instead of going through the rigorous process of going through different records and collating information on your own, you can simply get it served on a platter. However, you must understand that many of these websites are not good places to look for property data.
The sites/tools might be scams that rob people of their money through fees. If the people behind the fake sites are far more malicious, they can collect your sensitive data, such as bank details, email IDs, and more, and misuse them. Even if the website is legitimate, you must still check if the data it provides is accurate to the current time. Either the records might be outdated, or you might become prey to misinformation. So, while this is the easiest way to find a property’s past, you must check user reviews to understand if the site is perfect for your needs.
Town Hall, Tax Assessors, Title Companies, and More
Usually, the government and real estate companies keep records about a property which can help you know about its past and present in a comprehensive way. So you can always get in touch with either to learn the different facets of a property. However, unlike the previous method, most of these avenues will cost you a fee.
Furthermore, since the scenario involves a government or corporate setting, the process will be much slower than aggregator platforms. In some of these cases, you will have to go through a few formalities to get what you need. Thus, this method can get pretty tedious for you.
Besides this, in the case of town halls and county offices, the records might not be updated, or the officials might not be making any efforts to maintain a centralized database. In such cases, a trip to these places might not be worth your time, especially if you have to travel long distances.
However, the local title companies and tax assessors are your best bet among all the options. One of the major reasons for this is because, more often than not, they are up to date with knowledge about the properties under their jurisdiction. So you can get all data about any property’s history, the last date of transaction, the last price at which the property was bought/sold, the current value of the property, any deaths, the current owner, the previous owner, current/previous inhabitants, and more.
Real Estate Agent or Attorney
If you want the processes to be slightly faster, you can contact real estate agents or attorneys. These people work on the ground zero level and likely have a well-equipped team who can research places, homes, and private/commercial properties. So, if you know you have contacts with such people, you can easily get in touch with them.
However, there are a couple of things you must remember. Firstly, not all agents and attorneys might have the info you need. In fact, some may be better than others. So before you reach out to anyone, research and determine the best person for the job. Secondly, if you opt for the best, you must pay a much higher price as the consultation fee will be relatively higher than the average professional.
Search Engine Query
If none of these avenues work, it’s best to type in a simple search query with the property’s name or the house. You must suffix the name with words or phrases such as ‘history,’ ‘transaction history,’ ‘current value,’ and more. You can type the query based on the exact pieces of info you need, and you’ll get your results accordingly.
Now, if the place is quite popular and has a significant part to play in the country’s history, you’ll get trivia that will be essential for you. You might also be able to find details about the ownership, prices, value, permits, legal conditions, and more. Often when none of the methods above help, a search query can do wonders for you. You might stumble upon important archived materials about the place or news articles about incidents that took place there.
Local Library
You can also go to the library nearby to learn about a place. You might be surprised at the things you find. In fact, there’s a higher possibility of you getting to know something about a property if it has some historical significance. Although you might know data that involves the numbers, you can get a good idea of what that place was used for and how it has transformed over several years or decades.
Conclusion
Overall, these are a few ways in which you can know the history of a house, land, or property. You can employ one or more of these methods to get what you need and know the past and present of the place.
FAQs
How difficult is it to know the history of a place?
Depending on where the place is located and its popularity, it can be a little too difficult to know about a property’s complete past.
Can realtors be reliable in supplying info about a property?
Good realtors can be counted on to provide all the current details about a property. However, a selected few will know about the property’s long-forgotten past, and even fewer will have the means to research and give you answers.
What are the ways to find a place’s past?
You can either access public records, speak to realtors, title companies, and even access white pages platforms and get the data you need.