The purchase of a home is often the most significant expense that you will make. Become an informed consumer before making such a purchase to best protect your investment and avoid unnecessary surprises and frustration.

Over the years, there have been several instances where homeowners were either unaware of or ill advised about the current zoning, future land use designation, or future road designation of the land that abuts their homes or neighborhood. If the homeowners had researched the proposed uses and streets, they might have chosen to reexamine their purchase all together, modify their purchase price offer or re-thought improvements.

Home Buyer's Information Packet
The city of Overland Park uses a number of documents to help city leaders make decisions as to the appropriateness of development proposals and the improvements of streets and highways. As a prudent consumer searching for a new home, you should examine some of this same material.
This information is identified in the first item below. This same information is beneficial for any prospective home buyer to obtain and review.

1. Seller's Disclosure of Specified Information Relating to the Purchase of New One- and Two-Family Dwellings
2. How to Use the Master Plan
3. Future Development Plan Map
4. Official Street Map
5. Greenway Linkages Plan
6. Future Parks Plan Map (2.8mb .pdf file)
7. Unified Development Ordinance (Zoning and subdivision regulations)
8. FEMA Floodplain Questions
9. Property Maintenance Checklist
10. Residential Basement Foundations One- and Two- Family Dwellings (.pdf file)
11. Directory of Neighborhood Services(.pdf file)

Copies of the Home Buyer's Information Packet may also be purchased for a nominal fee. Call 895-6190 for more information.

Your responsibilities
Whether you are buying a new or an older home, the city encourages all prospective home buyers to:

1. Obtain and examine information available from the city (see above), including the Future Development Plan of the city's Master Plan, and become familiar with the relevant information contained on the map, including the future land uses and road improvements proposed in the area near your home.
   
   
2. Inspect the home and other structures on the property that you are considering purchasing and evaluate their condition and quality of construction. Take reasonable action either by your own evaluation or that of a professional to determine if the home was constructed in substantial compliance with the Official Building Code.
   
   
3. For prospective buyers of a new home, make inquiry into the builder’s reputation in the community for quality construction and customer service.
   
   
4. Review the real estate records at the Johnson County Register of Deeds Office and the Johnson County Appraiser's Office to determine the existence of recorded deed restrictions and covenants, notices of current or future tax assessments, and other matters which might affect the house and/or other structures or the land that you are considering purchasing.

Planning and Development Services Department
8500 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66212
Phone 913/895-6190, Fax 913/895-5013