{"id":1177901,"date":"2025-08-25T14:48:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T20:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adventuresincre.com\/?p=1177901"},"modified":"2025-08-25T17:37:38","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T23:37:38","slug":"quick-site-visit-checklist-real-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventuresincre.com\/quick-site-visit-checklist-real-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"The Real Estate Site Visit Checklist: What to Look For and Other Thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our business, initial assessments are most often made from a distance. We rely on Google Maps satellite images, broker packages, demographic reports, street view, and more to evaluate a multi-million-dollar property. And these assessments generally come before we ever step foot on site.<\/p>\n

Which is why that the in-person site visit is so crucial. If there’s anything I’ve learned throughout my career, it’s that what you see on a computer screen is never the full picture.<\/p>\n

This post outlines a practical checklist I use during site visits. More importantly, it explains why each step matters and how a thoughtful visit can surface risks and opportunities that no model will ever capture.<\/p>\n

Quick Note:<\/strong> Are you an AI.Edge member? I recently used AI to turn this checklist into a mobile-friendly, interactive web app that makes site visits easier. Check off items, add notes, and export a PDF record right from your phone or laptop: Try SiteV here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I shared how in my latest AI.Edge Build Showcase<\/a> | Not yet a member? Join AI.Edge<\/a> and position yourself as an AI leader in CRE.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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A Few Thoughts on CRE Site Visits<\/h2>\n

Before I share the checklist, allow me to offer a few thoughts from over 20 years of experience traveling to 41 states and three countries, and conducting hundreds of real estate site visits.<\/p>\n

Your Objective: Assess Perception vs. Reality<\/h4>\n

First, the primary objective of a site visit is to understand how your desk-bound assumptions compare to the reality on the ground.<\/p>\n

By the time you\u2019re visiting the site, you\u2019ve likely already fallen in love with the deal. That\u2019s natural. Which is why it\u2019s essential to take off the rose-colored glasses and assess the property with a clear, unemotional lens.<\/p>\n

But ultimately, the goal is not to confirm your assumptions, but to challenge them.<\/p>\n

What meets your initial assessment and what’s different? And how do those differences increase or decrease the value of the asset?<\/p>\n

It’s just a Snapshot – Remember That<\/h4>\n

Second, remember that a site visit is still just a snapshot. It’s just a single point in time. If you can visit the property twice during your trip – say, morning and evening or weekday and weekend – all the better.<\/p>\n

The more snapshots you get during this period, the better your perspective will be.<\/p>\n

Beyond your site visit, property condition assessment, and phase I environmental visit, you might also consider hiring a local videographer to swing by and record a 10\u201315 minute video of the site. That extra footage can offer a fresh angle and help you see things you might have missed.<\/p>\n

Don’t Discount Your Gut<\/h4>\n

Finally, don’t underestimate your gut. Instincts matter. And those instincts come to life when you’re physically on the ground.<\/p>\n

For example, we once underwrote a shiny, well-located power center that looked great on paper. Everything penciled.<\/p>\n

But when we visited, the reality didn\u2019t match what we\u2019d envisioned from the office. One of the outparcels, not part of the asset, was home to a high-traffic Chick-fil-A that created an ingress\/egress nightmare.<\/p>\n

Accessing much of the center was a challenge. And so, while the Placer data on the entire center was great, the reality for the subject property was less than great.<\/p>\n

On top of that, we saw heavy loitering in the parking lot and visible homeless activity in the adjacent sidewalk. Shoppers and workers were visibly cautious.<\/p>\n

So, while the deal technically worked on paper, the site visit surfaced issues that ultimately killed it.<\/p>\n

The Real Estate Site Visit Checklist<\/h2>\n

To help you make your site visit as unemotional and valuable as possible, Michael and I have put together a checklist for your next real estate site visit. While not exhaustive, it covers what we pay attention to most when visiting a property, plus additional expert-driven items.<\/p>\n

1. Location and Access<\/h4>\n