A real Property report is a certified drawing completed by a qualified surveying firm, which shows all buildings, dimensions, and distances from property lines on a specific property. When property is bought or sold in Lethbridge Alberta using an Alberta Real Estate Association Contract, the seller is responsible for providing a Real Property Report, together with a letter of compliance from the city. (A compliance letter is a letter from the City of Lethbridge which states whether building locations shown on a submitted document meet or do not meet the requirements set out in the Land Use Bylaw).
Inaccurate Real Property Reports can cause problems during closing time for buyers and sellers. Sometimes the garage, new addition, oversized deck, or the larger than 10X10 shed is not on the Real Property Report. Some lawyers and some buyers are pickier than others when it comes to the age and accuracy of a Real Property Report.
If you buy a Foreclosure, most of the time, the bank or whoever owns the foreclosure, will NOT provide a RPR. They might have one, and you can ask nicely for a copy, but they will not guarantee its accuracy if they have one.
Many years ago, people were provided with Surveyors certificates. However, lawyers will not accept these now for the purchase of a home. So if you bought your home before around 1998, it is likely that you do not have an RPR and will have to order one. If you need an RPR done, look under Surveyors in the phone book. You will find several surveyors in Lethbridge that can get this done for you. Some will also go to the city to get your letter of compliance as well. A new RPR starts at about $550. Sometimes the wait can be several weeks, but a surveyor may put a rush on an RPR for you if there is an offer on the home.
If you have made changes to your home, (added a garage, deck, etc), then you may be able to order an updated RPR at a lower cost.
RPRs and letters of compliance can cause delays in housing deals right around the closing date, so it is a good idea to make sure you have one ready when you list your home.
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