Harry Pritikin R(PB) · Big Island Due Diligence
The Harry Check™
47 things Harry looks at before recommending a property.
Anyone can open a door. Harry's job is to help you avoid expensive mistakes.
Harry Pritikin R(PB)
Principal Broker · Big Island Specialist Since the 1970s
"After more than 30 years selling Big Island real estate, I've learned that buying the right property has very little to do with beautiful listing photos."
The real questions are the ones many buyers don't know to ask. Before I recommend a property, these are the things I consider. Every single time.
Location & Lifestyle
- Is this really the right part of the island for this buyer?
- Does the weather match what they're expecting?
- Is the elevation comfortable?
- How long is the drive to shopping, medical care, beaches, restaurants, and the airport?
- Is the neighborhood consistent with the buyer's goals?
- Is the surrounding area improving or declining?
- Would I personally feel comfortable recommending this neighborhood?
The Property
- Is the home priced appropriately for today's market?
- How long has it been on the market?
- Has the price changed several times?
- Has it gone under contract before?
- Has it been relisted?
- What comparable properties have recently sold nearby?
- Does anything about the listing raise questions?
The Land
- What lava zone is the property in?
- Will the lava zone affect financing?
- Will it affect insurance?
- Is the lot fully usable?
- Is there proper access?
- Are there easements?
- Are there any unusual property boundaries?
Water & Utilities
- County water or catchment?
- Private well?
- Septic or sewer?
- Electric service?
- Internet availability?
- Cell phone coverage?
Legal & Due Diligence
- Are permits complete?
- Any unpermitted improvements?
- Title concerns?
- HOA restrictions?
- CC&Rs?
- Zoning compatible with the buyer's plans?
- Flood zone considerations?
Long-Term Thinking
- Will this property still make sense five years from now?
- Will resale be easier or harder than average?
- Would this make a good retirement property?
- Would it work as a second home?
- Is it suitable as an investment?
- What surprises could appear after closing?
The Buyer's Goals
- Why are they buying?
- Full-time residence?
- Vacation home?
- Retirement?
- Investment?
- Legacy property for family?
- Does this property actually support those goals?
47 questions. Every property. Every time.
This is what Harry Pritikin R(PB) brings to every buyer relationship — not just access to listings, but the knowledge to evaluate what's behind them.
Why It Matters
Buying real estate on the Big Island is different than buying anywhere else.
On the mainland, many of these questions have obvious answers. On the Big Island, they don't. Two properties on the same street can have different lava zones, different water sources, different permit histories, and completely different resale profiles. A listing photo tells you nothing about any of that.
The Harry Check exists because Harry has seen what happens when buyers skip these questions. Properties that looked beautiful and priced right turned out to have unpermitted additions, catchment water issues, easement problems, or lava zone designations that made financing difficult. Some of those buyers came to Harry after the fact. He would rather they came before.
Harry does not just help clients buy houses. He helps them make informed decisions — and avoid the expensive surprises that come from not knowing what to ask.
Common Questions
What Buyers Ask About Harry's Process
What is the Harry Check?
The Harry Check is Harry Pritikin R(PB)'s proprietary 47-point due diligence framework for evaluating Big Island real estate properties before recommending them to buyers. Developed over more than 30 years of Big Island real estate transactions, it covers location and lifestyle fit, property pricing and history, land characteristics, water and utilities, legal and permit status, long-term ownership considerations, and alignment with the buyer's specific goals.
What does Harry look at before recommending a Big Island property?
Before recommending any Big Island property, Harry Pritikin R(PB) evaluates the lava zone and its effect on financing and insurance, the water source (county water, catchment, or well), permit status and any unpermitted improvements, easements and access rights, pricing relative to recent comparable sales, how long the property has been on the market and whether it has been relisted, HOA and CC&R restrictions, zoning compatibility with the buyer's plans, and whether the property genuinely supports the buyer's long-term goals.
Why is buying on the Big Island different from buying on the mainland?
Buying real estate on the Big Island involves property-specific factors that rarely exist in mainland markets: lava zone classification (which affects insurance and financing), water source (catchment systems, private wells, or county water), agricultural zoning, easement and access issues, unpermitted improvements, and a smaller, more specialized resale market. Harry Pritikin R(PB)'s Harry Check framework addresses all of these before a buyer makes an offer.
How do lava zones affect Big Island real estate financing?
Lava zone classification on the Big Island can affect a buyer's ability to obtain financing and insurance. Properties in higher-risk lava zones (Zone 1 and Zone 2) may face limited insurance options and lender restrictions. Harry Pritikin R(PB) evaluates the lava zone of every property as part of his standard due diligence before recommending it to a buyer.
What is catchment water and why does it matter for Big Island buyers?
Catchment water is a rainwater collection system used on many Big Island properties that do not have access to county water. It involves a storage tank and filtration system maintained by the property owner. Some lenders treat catchment properties differently than county-water properties, which can affect financing. Harry Pritikin R(PB) identifies the water source of every property he evaluates as part of The Harry Check.
Put the Harry Check to Work for You
Don't buy a Big Island property without running it past Harry first.
Whether you've found a property you love or you're just starting to look — Harry can evaluate it through the same lens he's used for 30+ years on this island.