Types of Property Reports Available — DeedsCheck

DeedsCheck offers four main report types, each answering a different question about a property. The right report depends on what you're trying to find out and how much depth you need. This guide walks through what each report contains, who tends to buy it, and how it differs from the others.

All four report types use the same underlying source — the deeds registry maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development — plus, where applicable, the property data services that compile additional information layered on top of the registry.

1. Property Search Report

The most-purchased report and the natural starting point for most enquiries. The Property Search Report tells you:

• The full registered owner's name and ID number
• The property's deeds-registry description (erf, township, registration division, extent)
• The current bond (if any) — bondholder, amount, registration date
• The full transfer history — previous owners, sale dates, sale prices
• Registered restrictive conditions and servitudes affecting the property
• The deeds-office reference and current registration status

This is the report to buy if you want to know "who owns this property and what's the history?" — the question most buyers, tenants, and curious neighbours actually have. Live pricing is on the Property Search Report product page.

2. Property Document Search

A different question: what documents has the registry filed against this property? Title deeds, bond documents, sectional title scheme documents, notarial deeds, endorsements — every official document the registry holds for the property is enumerated.

The Document Search returns a list of available documents with their reference numbers and dates. From the list, you can identify which documents you need to download for full review — typically the current title deed itself, which you can then order as a separate Title Deed Copy.

This is the report to buy if you need to dig deeper than ownership — for example, to read the exact restrictive conditions registered against the property, to inspect the original transfer deed, or to verify the existence of specific notarial documents. Live pricing on the Property Document Search product page.

3. Valuation Report

Where the Property Search Report tells you what the property was registered for, the Valuation Report tells you what it's currently worth — an estimated market value based on a model that incorporates recent comparable sales, suburb price patterns, the property's characteristics, and other inputs.

The valuation isn't a formal sworn valuation by a registered valuer (those are required for bond applications, formal estate purposes, or court matters and cost substantially more). It's a model-based estimate suitable for negotiation, due diligence, and budgeting — the kind of figure you'd want before making an offer or accepting one. Live pricing on the Valuation Report product page.

4. Title Deed Copy

The actual title deed itself — the registered document that defines the property and records its current ownership. The Title Deed Copy is a PDF of the current title deed exactly as it appears in the registry.

Buy this when you need the deed itself: for a transfer or estate purpose, to read the exact wording of restrictive conditions, to provide to your conveyancer or bank, or simply to have a copy of the official record. Live pricing on the Title Deed Copy product page.

Which one do I need?

Quick guide by situation:

• Pre-purchase due diligence on a house. Start with a Property Search Report. If you want valuation context, add a Valuation Report. If your conveyancer wants the title deed, add a Title Deed Copy.
• Verifying a landlord's ownership before signing a lease. A Property Search Report is usually enough — confirms the owner and any bond.
• Tracing inherited property. Property Search Report for ownership; Title Deed Copy if you need the document itself for the estate process.
• Negotiating a purchase. Property Search Report (recent sales, current bond) + Valuation Report (market value estimate) give you the strongest information position.
• Researching a suburb or street. Multiple Property Search Reports — one per address of interest — let you compare values, transfer dates, and ownership patterns.
• Confirming restrictive conditions on your own property. Property Document Search to find the document list; Title Deed Copy to get the deed itself for review.
• Selling and want to know what your property is worth. Valuation Report.

Combining reports for full due diligence

For a full pre-purchase package on a single property, a typical combination is:

• Property Search Report — who owns it, what they paid, what bond they have
• Valuation Report — what it's currently worth
• Title Deed Copy — the actual deed for your conveyancer's review

These three together give you ownership, value, and the deed itself — the basis for a sensible offer and a conveyancer's pre-transfer checks. Total cost is meaningfully less than commissioning a sworn valuation alone would be (as at May 2026).

What's NOT in the reports

None of the DeedsCheck reports cover:

• The structural condition of the building (you'd commission a separate home inspection for that)
• Municipal rates owing (your conveyancer obtains a clearance certificate at transfer)
• Sectional title body corporate financials (the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act requires separate disclosure)
• Pending litigation against the owner that doesn't touch the property itself
• The owner's residential address (the registry holds property ownership, not personal address)

For these, separate due diligence is required. The reports cover what the deeds registry knows; that's a lot, but it's not everything.

Frequently asked questions

How fast are reports delivered?

Most reports are delivered within minutes of payment. Some types (Title Deed Copies that need to be retrieved from older archives) can take longer; the product page indicates expected turnaround. You receive the report by email and can also access it from your DeedsCheck dashboard.

Can I get my money back if the report doesn't contain what I expected?

Yes, within reason. The DeedsCheck refund policy is on the website. The reports return what the deeds registry holds; if the registry has no record of the property (or holds limited information for a very new registration), we issue a refund or credit.

What if I've already bought a Property Search Report and want to add a Title Deed Copy?

You can buy any report type as a follow-up. Some bundles include discounts when ordered together; check the relevant product pages for current pricing as at May 2026.

Are the reports official documents I can submit to a bank or court?

The Title Deed Copy is a PDF of the registered title deed and is generally accepted as proof of registered ownership for most purposes. The other reports are informational and aren't intended as legally-formal documents for court or sworn-valuation purposes — a registered conveyancer or sworn valuer is required for those.