Methodology
An answer is only as useful
as the evidence behind it.
Our work should be possible to examine, question and use. Each brief starts with definitions and ends with a clear account of what the research does and does not establish.
The working method
Follow the question
through the records.
Define the unit of research
Is the target one parcel, an assembled site, an operating property or a portfolio? Set the geography and define each criterion, including the area measurement that matters.
Check source coverage
Identify the relevant assessor, recorder, planning, mapping and business-register sources. Review access, dates, licensing and field definitions. Report gaps before scaling the work.
Collect and reconcile
Retain parcel IDs and original source values. Standardise names and addresses carefully, flag uncertain matches, and distinguish raw records from derived fields.
Test the apparent matches
Review exclusions and edge cases. Examine parcel boundaries and mapped constraints where appropriate. An attribute match alone should not become a confirmed acquisition fit.
Deliver the evidence and open questions
Provide source links, research dates, a data dictionary and explicit limitations. Identify which conclusions need confirmation by a relevant authority or professional.
Source discipline
Different records answer
different questions.
These are source categories we may use. Availability, access and reliability are assessed for each jurisdiction and brief.
| Source | Useful for | Does not establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| County assessor & parcel GIS | Parcel identifiers, recorded tax ownership, land and building attributes. | Legal title, current site condition or usable area. |
| Recorded deeds & instruments | Tracing recorded transfers and documents associated with a property. | A complete title opinion or the absence of unrecorded interests. |
| Planning authority & zoning records | Districts, overlays, use definitions and published case history. | Permission for a specific proposed operation without further review. |
| FEMA & local flood mapping | Identifying mapped flood-hazard information for further investigation. | The absence of flood risk or a final insurance determination. |
| State business registers | Entity names, registration status and filed information. | Beneficial ownership or the right person to negotiate a sale. |
| Aerial imagery & other public evidence | Understanding visible layout and corroborating observations. | Current occupancy, legal access, exact boundaries or lawful use. |
A consistent distinction
Fact. Interpretation.
Question.
We label what comes directly from a record, what follows from our analysis and what still needs to be established. Conflicting evidence stays visible.
“Industrial” needs a definition.
Recorded fact
A parcel has an industrial tax-use classification.
Research interpretation
It may warrant review against an industrial acquisition brief.
Open question
Does the governing zoning and approval history allow the buyer’s proposed use?
Further reading
Use the right source
for the question.
Our research notes explain common record mismatches and show how to build a more useful first-pass screen.
Start with your criteria
What are you
looking to acquire?
Tell us the market, the asset and the question your current data cannot answer. We’ll start by establishing whether the research is feasible.
Discuss a research brief