How to start a service specializing in creating detailed historical property reports for new buyers?

The Property Genealogist: Digging for Gold 📜 This is a niche, high-value consulting service, especially for buyers of heritage properties, properties in old city areas, or properties undergoing redevelopment. You're selling risk mitigation and peace of mind. ### 1. Data Sources and Expertise * Title/Legal Documents: Your primary source is the chain of title. You'll be searching Sub-Registrar's offices, municipal records, and court documents (for encumbrances or disputes). This requires strong legal and research skills. * Building/Planning Records: You need access to old building permits, zone change notifications, and land use plans from the local Municipal Corporation or Development Authority. This can reveal illegal construction or non-compliance. * Historical Context: Look for old survey maps, gazetteers, or even newspaper archives to find out if the land was a tank, cemetery, or involved in any famous local historical event, which can impact future redevelopment. * Environmental/Hazard: Check for historical flood/earthquake data, and proximity to old waste dumps or industrial sites, which are hidden risks. ### 2. The Report and Pricing * The Report: Your final product is a comprehensive, highly detailed, and objective report. It should clearly outline the Chain of Ownership, any Existing Encumbrances (Mortgages, Litigation), Historical Structural Changes, and Potential Risks. Use a simple RAG (Red/Amber/Green) rating for risk assessment. * Pricing: This is not a cheap service. Price it based on the complexity, age, and location of the property. A high-end heritage property report could cost significantly more than a modern apartment in a new complex. Price should reflect the specialised skill and the hundreds of hours saved for the buyer. ### 3. Client Acquisition * Partnerships: Your primary lead source will be Real Estate Lawyers, Property Consultants, and High-Net-Worth Individual (HNI) Brokers who handle complex or heritage property transactions. They need your service as part of their due diligence. * Online Presence: Your website should look highly professional, detailing your process and showing anonymised case studies of how you uncovered a critical issue that saved a client from a bad purchase.