Step 14: Knowing When To Seek Professional Advice

Watch us walk you through Step 14 — knowing when to seek professional advice — in our 30-part Hawaii Home Buying Guide.

More in this series: Full 30-Step Playlist All Steps

Your Realtor's Role — and Where It Ends

During the inspection period you'll receive a substantial volume of information: inspection reports, seller disclosures, condo documents, permit histories, title reports, and more. Your Realtor is there to help you navigate all of it — but they are real estate professionals, not attorneys, accountants, structural engineers, or tax advisors. Knowing when to bring in the right specialist is part of making a fully informed decision.

The Hawaii Association of Realtors Purchase Contract explicitly recommends that buyers seek advice from qualified third-party professionals when questions arise outside the scope of real estate. This isn't boilerplate — it's practical guidance. Your Realtor can help identify and connect you with the right professionals; they simply can't substitute for them.

Situations That Warrant Independent Professional Advice

  1. 1Legal questions — Title disputes, easement ambiguities, the terms of a leasehold ground lease, trust or estate ownership complications — any situation with legal implications belongs with a licensed real estate attorney.
  2. 2Tax implications — Questions about 1031 exchanges, capital gains treatment on a future sale, Hawaii's property tax exemption eligibility, or how the purchase will interact with your overall tax picture belong with a CPA or tax advisor who understands Hawaii-specific rules.
  3. 3Structural or engineering concerns — When inspection findings raise questions about foundation integrity, retaining wall stability, or soil conditions, a licensed structural or geotechnical engineer provides the definitive professional assessment.
  4. 4Permit compliance — Determining the implications of unpermitted work, the cost of retroactive permitting, or the risk of leaving it as-is requires guidance from the City's Department of Planning and Permitting and often a licensed contractor or permit expediter.

Asking your Realtor to opine on legal, tax, or engineering matters puts both of you in a difficult and potentially harmful position. Asking them to help you identify and coordinate the right professional — that's exactly what a strong working relationship looks like.