How to Find Records on Your Home
If you own an older home, or one of historical interest, you may like to know more about it. You may be able to find out more about the physical history of the house and any other buildings on the property, including any additions and updates to the original buildings, plumbing and electricity. Personal history of the house, such as who lived there and for how long, also may be available. Learning how to find records on your house will help you gather this information.
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Instructions
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Look at a tax notice for your home. Find and write down the tax identification or control number and a deed number on the property you own.
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Go to tax assessor's office, usually at your city or town hall or in the county courthouse, and ask to see the property records on your home. Having the identification number will speed up the search, but it is also possible to look up property records with just your address. These property records are part of the Assessors Roll or Assessment Roll.
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Search through the property records for the correct entry. These records may be available on computer---online or a standalone database---or you may have to search through paper copies. There may be staff available to do the search for you, and if so, there may be a fee. There will be a fee for any photocopies, so ask the cost ahead of time.
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Find the correct property record for your home. It should contain building information, such as the year built, the number of rooms and information about improvements, as well as several other facts you may find useful.
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Ask if deeds are housed in the same office or building. You may have a copy of your deed if your mortgage is paid, and you probably know the name or names of the previous owners from whom you purchased the property. You may not know the names of the original owners, or any other owners, if the home has been sold several times. Deeds are public records, and you should be able to establish a chain of title for your home.
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Check with the local planning office to see if any building permits are on file for your property that would indicate construction or repairs.
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Go to the public library and the historical society near your home. Look in old city directories, newspaper archives, census records, vertical files and local history and genealogy books for information on previous owners and their ties to the neighborhood. Some of this information may be available online, but much requires hands-on searching.
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Tips & Warnings
Respect the privacy of previous owners. If it is not public record, they may not want to discuss their personal history with you.
