Due Diligence Pro: Checking Flood Zoning

Check out this step by step guide to using Auckland Council GeoMaps to find out whether a property is in a flood zone - for free!

Flooding. Top of mind for most over the last few years due to the extreme weather events that have impacted our region. 

Wondering if a property is tagged for potential flooding? You can check this yourself, for free, using the steps below. The maps you can access here coincide with flooding maps at the back of a LIM report. 

Step 1

Search for GIS VIEWER in your browser.

Step 2

Select GEOMAPS MAPPING SERVICE from your results.

Step 3

Select OPEN GEOMAPS.

Step 4

Select I AGREE.

 

Step 5

Enter the address you are looking for in the search bar.

Step 6

Go to THEMES (the icon with three boxes) and select ASSETS.

Step 7

Go to LEGEND 

Step 8

Select all boxes in CATCHMENTS AND HYDROLOGY except groundwater (because there is a groundwater overlay everywhere and this will confuse you).

Ta da! You did it! Great not having to wait on someone else to give you the information, isn't it?

A final word...

The maps you see here are based on modeling so if you spot something on these maps it isn't a surefire indication that the property in question floods, at all, let alone severely. But it does signal that it might. See this as a trigger to ask more questions.

This could look like:

• Asking the owner whether the property has flooded since they owned it.
• Knocking on the neighbours doors. Try to talk with someone who has lived in the street for a long time. 
• Call the Council and ask if they have any flooding on record for the property. 
• Is there a Facebook page for the neighbourhood? Search the street name and see what pops up there.
• If you are looking at building or extending the existing home you may want to check whether or not there will be any additional requirements (minimum floor levels etc) due to flood plains etc. 

Find this helpful? Follow me on my Facebook page for more real estate tips to help you reach your real estate goals. 

Best of luck with your real estate adventures and if I can help please get in touch!

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