Older-building shared-costs workbook
This workbook helps buyers distinguish the condition of a component from the obligation to pay for it. A roof can need work while the scope, allocation and funding remain unresolved. Those are four different questions, and an interior renovation does not settle them.
Follow one component through the file
Choose a material item: roof, exterior, stairs, drainage or shared service equipment. Create one row for each stage below. If evidence is missing, record the gap rather than assuming the next stage has occurred.
| Stage | Evidence to identify | Decision question |
|---|---|---|
| Observation | Inspection or documented condition finding | What exactly is known, and what was inaccessible? |
| Scope | Report, proposal or professional recommendation | What work is actually contemplated? |
| Responsibility | Governing or title provision | Who controls and pays for it? |
| Decision | Current meeting record or documented agreement | Has work been approved, deferred or only discussed? |
| Funding | Budget, reserves or documented assessment | How will the approved obligation be met? |
| Completion | Relevant contract and completion evidence | What was finished, and what remains? |
Do not confuse allocation with equal shares
Read the actual documents. A small building does not automatically divide every cost equally, and an exclusive-use area does not automatically shift every associated structural obligation to one owner. Where language is unclear or material, obtain the appropriate professional interpretation.
The SF property map can locate relevant permit and planning entries for the address. Those public records do not replace the private documents that allocate costs. The City’s 3R information also explains that the report has a defined building-permit scope rather than serving as a complete condition certification.
Compare two offerings fairly
For each property, list current recurring charges, clearly identified owner expenses and documented substantial work. Leave an unscoped item open rather than inventing a reassuring estimate. Ask whether the lender or insurer needs further information about the building, and obtain their actual response for the transaction.
A residence with a lower asking price or lower recurring charge may still carry a different obligation. The worksheet makes that difference visible without turning a possible future assessment into an unsupported certainty.
For sellers
Gather the documents that show the present stage of meaningful work. Distinguish a discussion, contractor proposal, approved project and completed repair. A precise explanation helps buyers evaluate a known issue and protects the presentation from overstating what has been resolved.
Return to the District 6 neighborhood comparison or use the citywide property evidence checklist. For help applying this workbook to a real offering, explore San Francisco buyer representation.
