Inside the Pacaso Due Diligence Process

At Pacaso, curating the perfect vacation home isn't just about the aesthetics — it's about delivering a home that is structurally sound, well-constructed, and thoroughly planned with surrounding infrastructure and any disaster risks. We know that buying a vacation home is a big decision, so we’ve developed a comprehensive due diligence process to give buyers peace of mind.Due diligence at Pacaso is a rigorous four-stage process that includes multiple layers of home reviews and assurance checks, combined third-party and internal inspections, a detailed eight-point home evaluation, and a detailed in-person site visit no matter where the home is located. Our expert team leverages their decades of experience in real estate acquisitions, home maintenance and home construction during every step of turning a third-party listing into a Pacaso home, and gives you all the information you need to move forward confidently with co-ownership.

1. Desktop review

The Pacaso due diligence process begins with a thorough desktop review. This desktop review includes assessing the home details (e.g. number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.), evaluating the surrounding community and analyzing the home’s price relative to market value to determine if it’s worth buying. Our team also examines the home based on Pacaso's high standards, with a keen eye on properties that have growing interest from buyers.

2. On-site evaluation

Once a potential gem is identified, our team flies out to the property for an on-site inspection. We dive into the nuts and bolts of the home, assessing every corner for structural integrity, making note of existing appliances and checking for any required essential updates. Our team then moves into the surrounding neighborhood and community. We examine important factors like HOA fees, flood zones, high-risk fire zones and ease of access to local amenities like hospitals, parks and nearby schools. We also look at nuances and red flags that go beyond our initial assessment.

“There are a lot of random flags that we look for that not everyone would pay close attention to, like stray dogs, telephone wires, busy intersections, interrupting views — things that the pictures and videos don’t show, and that we get from agent insider information.”

— Jacob Karp, Acquisitions Manager

3. Comprehensive inspection

As our team puts the home under contract to close, we conduct a professional 360° home inspection, coordinating with different vendors on your behalf at no expense to you. This all-encompassing inspection includes thorough checks for foundation, plumbing, electrical, drainage, pest infestations and more. We also look for any location-based risks, scrutinize the home’s roof and structural integrity, and even evaluate sea walls where applicable. Our in-house team often collaborates with third-party inspection companies to get a detailed picture of the home and help you avoid the pitfalls during a traditional real estate due diligence process.

“Pacaso will always use industry-standard, third-party inspections to verify that our homes are defect and hazard-free, but we also go above and beyond with our internal assurance checks to ensure every home is truly suited to becoming a Pacaso.”

— Joe Heafy, Senior Manager of Capital Projects and Construction

4. Second team inspection

The inspection doesn’t stop there. As we make an offer and purchase the home on your behalf, our maintenance team will conduct a second internal inspection, focusing on home functionality and the integration of amenities, appliances, and other features. From ensuring ample storage solutions to verifying compatibility with modern sound systems and technology, every detail is taken into account to ensure we can create a standout living space.

Exceeding owner expectations

With our comprehensive due diligence process, you can embark on your co-ownership journey with confidence and clarity. Leave all the intricacies to us — from the initial desktop review and comprehensive pre-close home inspection to our thorough eight-point inspection and final quality assurance check — and we’ll remove the guesswork so you can focus on seeing your dream home become a reality.

Inside the due diligence process: How Pacaso evaluates every home for co-ownership