Can the survey be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the signer shows intent, consents to electronic records, attribution is clear, and records can be retained and reproduced.

When is notarization required?

Notarization requirements depend on state and local permitting rules; certain acknowledgements used for property transfers or affidavits may need notarization or a remote online notarization consistent with state RON rules.

Do I need a hazardous materials report?

If visual indicators or age of building suggest regulated materials, order lab testing for asbestos or lead; failing to document hazards can result in environmental enforcement and cleanup obligations.

Who must sign the final survey?

Typical signers include the licensed inspector who performed tests, the property owner or authorized agent, and the demolition contractor; designate roles clearly to support attribution and regulatory reliance.

How long must records be retained?

Retention varies: keep active project records for the project life plus at least three years, retain environmental and health-related records per HIPAA or federal standards where applicable.

How do I submit the survey to the permit office?

Follow local permitting guidance; many jurisdictions accept electronic submissions as PDFs with attachments, but confirm whether notarized originals or certified lab reports are required in hard copy.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Real Estate Pre-Demo Survey

Real Estate Pre-Demo Survey

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

REAL ESTATE PRE-DEMO SURVEY

Property Owner: Owner Contact:

Demolition Contractor: Contractor Contact:

Property Identification

Property Address Parcel / APN Number Legal Description

Survey Details

Survey Date: Survey Conducted By:

Summary of Site Conditions

Structures & Site Features

Basement Present: Yes No Garage/Carport Present: Yes No

Outbuildings / Accessory Structures (quantity) Outbuilding Description

Hazardous Materials & Environmental Concerns

For each listed hazard indicate presence and, if present, identify location and testing status.

Asbestos Present: Yes No

Asbestos Location / Testing Notes

Lead-Based Paint: Yes No

Lead Paint Location / Testing Notes

Underground Storage Tank(s): Yes No

Tank Location / Remediation Status

Mold / Biologicals: Yes No

Mold Location / Remediation Notes

Other Hazardous Materials Identified: Yes No

Other Hazard Description

Utilities & Disconnects

Water Disconnected: Yes No Gas Disconnected: Yes No

Electric Disconnected: Yes No Sewer/Septic Secured: Yes No

Utility Account / Meter Identifiers

Permits, Notifications & Access

Demolition Permit Obtained: Yes No

Permit Number / Issuing Authority Site Access & Notification Requirements

Salvage, Personal Property & Decommissioning

Salvage Items Identified Planned Salvage / Removal Procedure

Inspection, Sampling & Reports

Sampling / Laboratory Testing Required: Yes No

Sampling Contractor / Inspector Sampling Report Due Date

Photos Taken: Yes No

Photo Reference Numbers / File Names

Safety, Protection & Site Control

Required Safety Controls Protection Measures for Adjacent Structures

Schedule & Special Instructions

Estimated Demo Start Date: Estimated Demo End Date:

Special Instructions

Disclosures & Known Conditions

Prior Structural Damage: Yes No Prior Fire Damage: Yes No

Describe Known Damage or Conditions

Certification, Liability & Governing Law

The Property Owner certifies, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of Owner's knowledge the information provided in this survey is true, complete and accurate as of the survey date. The Demolition Contractor acknowledges responsibility to verify hazardous material conditions, obtain required permits, perform necessary testing and comply with all applicable laws, codes and regulations prior to commencement of demolition.

Indemnification: The Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Owner, and Owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the Contractor, each to the extent attributable to their respective acts or omissions, for claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of demolition activities, hazardous material disturbance, or failure to obtain necessary permits.

Access & Right to Stop Work: The Owner grants Contractor reasonable access to the property for the purposes of testing and pre-demolition work. Either party may stop work if imminent hazard to health or safety is discovered until hazard is remediated or otherwise addressed by written agreement.

Governing Law & Entire Agreement: This survey and any obligations arising from it shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the property is located. This document, when signed by both parties, constitutes the entire pre-demolition survey agreement between the parties regarding the matters described herein.

Certification of Acknowledgment: By signing below each party certifies that they have read, understood and accept the statements, disclosures and obligations contained in this Pre-Demo Survey.

Property Owner:

By:

Date:

Demolition Contractor:

By:

Date:

What the Real Estate Pre-Demo Survey Is and When it’s Used

A Real Estate Pre-Demo Survey is a structured assessment completed before any demolition or major deconstruction activity to document a property's condition, identify hazards, and record regulatory and utility status. Typical content includes hazardous materials screening (asbestos, lead, PCBs), structural observations, utility disconnect confirmations, photographic evidence, measurements, and notes about occupants or tenants. The survey supports permit applications, informs remediation or salvage plans, helps coordinate utility and waste disposal, and creates a contemporaneous record to reduce liability for owners, contractors, and regulators.

Why a Pre-Demo Survey Matters for Risk and Compliance

A well-prepared Pre-Demo Survey reduces health and environmental risk, documents required disclosures for permits, and clarifies responsibilities among owner, contractor, and waste handlers. It supports regulatory compliance, aids budgeting and salvage decisions, and creates an auditable record should disputes or enforcement actions occur.

Who Typically Prepares and Relies on the Pre-Demo Survey

Several parties prepare or rely on the Real Estate Pre-Demo Survey depending on project scale and local rules.

Property owners and developers who must disclose site conditions and secure demolition permits.
Demolition contractors and subcontractors who need hazard awareness, utility disconnect confirmation, and salvage plans.
Environmental consultants and licensed inspectors who perform hazardous materials sampling and provide regulatory reports.

The final survey is shared with permitting authorities, waste haulers, insurers, and retained in project records for audit and post-demolition reconciliation.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Pre-Demo Survey

Follow these practical steps in order to create a defensible and permit-ready survey.

01

Prepare: Gather title, site plan, permits, and prior reports before inspection.
02

Inspect: Walk site, photograph, and sample for hazardous materials as needed.
03

Document: Complete form fields, attach lab reports, and record utility confirmations.
04

Distribute: Send the final report to owner, contractor, and permitting authority.

Digital Workflow Settings for Online Completion

Typical online workflows use templates, defined signer roles, and required attachments to enforce completeness.

Field	Configuration
Document Template	Use a template with required hazard and utility fields
Signers & Roles	Owner \| Contractor \| Inspector \| Permit office, set signing order
Authentication	Email authentication and optional SMS code for higher assurance
Attachments Required	Photographs, lab reports, utility disconnect confirmations

Typical Online Submission Flow

A concise overview of the end-to-end digital submission process used for permitting and records.

Upload Document: Sender uploads the survey PDF or DOCX to the signing platform.
Add Fields: Place signature, initial, date, and attachment fields for required inputs.
Send to Signers: Route to inspector, contractor, owner in the defined order.
Receive Completed: Signed package with audit trail is returned to sender and archived.

Core Components Every Professional Pre-Demo Survey Should Include

A comprehensive survey is multi-disciplinary — combine visual inspection, testing, and administrative details to meet regulatory and operational needs.

Hazard Checklist

A structured list covering asbestos, lead, PCB, mold, and other regulated materials with sampling and results fields for each item.

Utility Verification

Detailed status fields for gas, electric, water, and sewer with provider confirmations, ticket numbers, or planned disconnect dates.

Photographic Record

Timestamped photos with location notes and file attachments to substantiate observed conditions and changes pre-demolition.

Environmental Testing

Fields to link laboratory reports, chain-of-custody references, and inspector certifications where sampling occurred.

Permits & Notices

Document permit numbers, local notifications, and required public or tenant notices tied to demolition activities.

Salvage and Waste Plan

Include salvageable materials list, hazardous waste disposition instructions, and responsible hauler details.

Technical Expectations for eSubmission and Recordkeeping

Modern Pre-Demo Surveys are often completed and archived using a digital platform that supports signatures, attachments, and audit trails.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported for upload and archival
Integrations: Connect to project management and storage systems
Authentication: Email, SMS code, or stronger signer verification

Choose a platform that preserves tamper-evident records, stores attachments with the survey, and supports export for permit submission and long-term retention.

Legal and Operational Risks if the Survey Is Incorrect or Missing

Environmental Fines: Civil penalties and cleanup costs

Permit Denial: Project delays and stop-work orders

Worker Safety Liability: OSHA citations and damages

Improper Disposal: Hazardous waste violations

Utility Damage: Repair costs and third-party claims

Insurance Claim Issues: Coverage disputes or denial

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Failing to document utility disconnects with provider confirmation often leads to liability and delays for reconnect or repair work.
Skipping hazardous materials sampling or relying only on visual checks can miss regulated contaminants such as asbestos or lead paint.
Using inconsistent property identifiers or abbreviating the legal owner name causes mismatches with title records and permit applications.
Not attaching lab reports, photographs, or chain-of-custody documentation undermines the survey’s evidentiary value during inspections or disputes.

Practical Tips to Improve Accuracy and Reduce Processing Time

Apply proven practices to make surveys both compliant and efficient for permitting and project execution.

Coordinate a Pre-Inspection Meeting

Gather owner, contractor, inspector, and permitting contact before inspection to clarify responsibilities, confirm access, and identify required tests, reducing rework and approval delays.

Use High-Quality Photographs

Capture timestamped, labeled photos of key areas and suspected hazards; include wide shots and close-ups to support descriptions and help reviewers visualize site conditions.

Order Targeted Laboratory Tests

Where visual indicators exist, order asbestos or lead testing in advance and attach lab results to the survey so permit reviewers can process applications without waiting for follow-up.

Confirm Utility Disconnects in Writing

Obtain written confirmation or ticket numbers from utility providers and attach them to the survey to prevent accidental service disruption and support the permit application.

Real-World Examples of Pre-Demo Surveys in Practice

These short examples illustrate how different organizations use Pre-Demo Surveys to address distinct project needs.

Martin Properties (Small Portfolio)

Martin Properties digitized their pre-demo workflows to avoid site visits for each small project and ensure compliance.

Streamlined approvals for multiple assets at once.
The company reported faster turnaround on permit-ready packages and fewer field re-inspections after combining photographs, checklists, and contractor confirmations into a single electronic packet.

Optica Ventures (Renovation Developer)

Optica Ventures standardized survey templates across projects to capture hazards and salvageable materials consistently.

Consistent data across project teams.
Standardization reduced ambiguity for subcontractors and allowed the developer to include accurate salvage estimates in early budgets and to comply with local environmental reporting requirements.

E-signature Vendor Comparison for Pre-Demo Survey Workflows

Comparison of common capability and pricing dimensions relevant when choosing an e-signature solution for Pre-Demo Survey forms and permit submissions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Available	Available	Available	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Security and Compliance Features to Protect Survey Records

Encryption In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption At Rest: AES-256

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

HIPAA Support: HIPAA-compliant with BAA required

Regulatory Standards: ESIGN and UETA compliance

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA

Frequently Asked Questions about the Pre-Demo Survey

Answers to common legal, procedural, and technical questions encountered when preparing Pre-Demo Surveys for demolition projects.

Need help? Contact support

Can the survey be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the signer shows intent, consents to electronic records, attribution is clear, and records can be retained and reproduced.
When is notarization required?
Notarization requirements depend on state and local permitting rules; certain acknowledgements used for property transfers or affidavits may need notarization or a remote online notarization consistent with state RON rules.
Do I need a hazardous materials report?
If visual indicators or age of building suggest regulated materials, order lab testing for asbestos or lead; failing to document hazards can result in environmental enforcement and cleanup obligations.
Who must sign the final survey?
Typical signers include the licensed inspector who performed tests, the property owner or authorized agent, and the demolition contractor; designate roles clearly to support attribution and regulatory reliance.
How long must records be retained?
Retention varies: keep active project records for the project life plus at least three years, retain environmental and health-related records per HIPAA or federal standards where applicable.
How do I submit the survey to the permit office?
Follow local permitting guidance; many jurisdictions accept electronic submissions as PDFs with attachments, but confirm whether notarized originals or certified lab reports are required in hard copy.

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