Translating Building Dept Records

[Chris Vacek]

Hey All,

Just wondering if anyone in this group of intelligent people has any advice regarding preliminary search when researching property information.  As an agent I have found that different municipalities have wildly different standards when it comes to public information regarding a property.  My particular method unfortunately is grab a chair, photo copy everything, and spend a lot of time trying to decipher exactly what the "official" stats on a building are.

Anyone have a time saving idea for going about this?  Anyone have a guide that points out the major things you should look for( im talking about structural info like number of rooms sq ft etc etc)?   I have been working with more and more investors lately and would love to be able to point them towards something that teaches them how to do the research rather than just burying myself in paperwork for the day.

Thanks in advance for your informed opinions!