About Mark Sutter

Our Surveyor Explains how Overland Drainage works in a Side Yard This is an unusual scenario. There is an overland drainage right-of-way along the side of the house which runs along the entire length of the lot. This means anything between the fence and the wall in the picture is within the right-of-way. This includes the eaves of the house, the shed, and the window wells. The current landowner was completely unaware of this issue until they received their Real Property Report. [...]

Spot the Bylaw Infraction: Attached Sheds The majority of residential houses in Calgary are constructed to fit inside the building envelope defined within a lot. There is a good chance, that if you see a shed attached to the side of a house, it may be the source of a bylaw infraction. Remember, a shed that is attached to a house will most likely not meet the side yard setback requirements for the property, as it will be considered an addition to the house. [...]

When (and why) do planters appear on Real Property Reports? Short answer: In most cases, planters should be shown on Real Property Reports when they are permanent features which may be encroaching or hold value. [...]

3 Reasons to hire a surveyor when buying or selling a country lot The boundaries of county lots can be difficult to understand. Fences are not always built on property lines. Property around Calgary, especially those with a view, is exceedingly expensive which warrants a high degree of due diligence. Surveying around Calgary We recently provided a survey for a couple considering the purchase of a 2.5 ac. parcel outside of Calgary. Their main concern was determining if their dream home design would fit within the building envelope given the topography and the position of the water well. As it turns out, this due diligence paid off. This quarter section of land had been subdivided in 1994, 2004, and again in 2007. The survey in 2007 significantly changed the boundary of the subject parcel. However, the fences had been built prior and followed the older property lines. The previous owner, the current owner, and their representatives were referencing the older parcel, as was the listing online. [...]

Two Ways to Spot Encroachments Before Leaving Your Desk! Gathering as much information as you can about a property before you leave your desk will allow you to be insightful and work effectively. Here [...]

Real Property Reports Explained A Real Property Report and a Certificate of Compliance are essential components for your smooth real estate transaction. In a nutshell, you need a Real Property Report to prove that [...]

Where is the property line? What is a Zero Lot Line? Many Calgary neighborhoods have maximized land use by using Zero Lot Lines. This practice allows people to build houses with one wall very [...]

Two Most Common Questions from Law Professionals Most of the common questions we receive from Law Professionals are around two ideas. “What should we expect will be shown on the Real Property Report?” “Where [...]

How to Spot a Bylaw Infraction Because Air Conditioners are Everywhere! Do you see it? This air conditioner is close as possible to the mechanical room in the basement and is tucked in neatly [...]