San Francisco property evidence checklist
This checklist helps organize questions that a showing cannot answer. Use it to trace a material claim to the exact property, relevant record and appropriate professional. It is a working file, not a replacement for inspections, legal advice or a parcel-specific technical report.
Give each claim its own row
| Claim or question | Useful starting evidence | Limit to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| What is being sold? | Title and governing documents | A photograph does not establish included rights |
| What use does this room support? | Relevant records and professional review | Finish and separate access do not establish approved use |
| What work was done? | Scope, related permits and completion evidence where applicable | An application or unrelated invoice is not the answer |
| Who pays for shared work? | Actual allocation and financial documents | A small building does not imply equal shares |
| What does a map show? | Exact parcel, layer and source date | Different hazards and planning controls are different questions |
| What is proposed nearby? | Project site and current stage | Approval does not establish delivery timing |
Use public tools for their stated purpose
SF Planning’s property map offers parcel information and leads to planning, permit, environmental and preservation records. Read the scope and limits of the entry, and obtain underlying documents where the question is material. A mapped label is not a physical diagnosis or a promise of project approval.
DBI’s 3R information explains that the report concerns building-permit history and excludes categories such as plumbing and electrical permits. Keep it in the record file while preserving the separate role of inspection and further document review.
Distinguish water-related responsibilities
The SFPUC lateral guide distinguishes the privately owned lateral from the public main and explains maintenance and repair roles, including circumstances in which SFPUC performs lower-lateral work. Confirm the actual situation rather than importing another county’s point-of-sale program or assuming a uniform private-versus-public split.
The SFPUC storm-flood map information addresses a particular source of flood risk. Do not substitute it for every coastal, drainage or insurance question. Identify the actual parcel and issue, then seek the current evidence and advice relevant to it.
Keep a dated decision log
For each material question, record the source, date, finding, limit and next action. Mark whether the answer is confirmed, needs clarification or requires a specialist. A blank field is more honest and useful than an assumed answer.
For a proposed remodel, create a separate project brief stating the exact change. For an occupied offering, obtain current property-specific advice before relying on an assumed possession or rental outcome. The City’s Rent Board information is an official starting point, not a determination for the individual transaction.
Use this file with San Francisco buyer representation or sale preparation. Return to the district directory to choose a neighborhood comparison and the workbook most relevant to the actual property type.
