Orientation, easements, soil conditions, tree protection, and the questions worth asking before you make an offer.
Start with orientation. A south-backing lot gives you winter sun in the living spaces and a yard that thaws in March instead of May. In Calgary's climate that is worth more than an extra five feet of width, and the market consistently underprices it.
Then pull the title. Utility rights-of-way and easements don't show up on a walk-through, but they dictate where a foundation can sit. We've seen a six-foot easement quietly remove a triple garage from a client's plan.
“Every expensive surprise we've seen was visible before possession.”
Soil is the quiet budget-killer. Parts of the inner city sit on fill from demolished houses; a geotechnical report costs about as much as a nice sofa and can save a five-figure surprise at excavation. If the seller hesitates over a soils condition, that tells you something too.
Finally, walk the block at 5 pm on a weekday: parking, traffic, shadows from neighbouring buildings. Then bring us the address. We'll give you a straight read on buildability before you write the offer, not after.