Two years ago I wrote about my due diligence checklist.
It's had a small update since, but I still run it on every acquisition we do.
When you're under contract, you're carrying a hot potato. Your team is waiting at the finish line, and every day you run toward closing, you want it more. That wanting is exactly when people skip steps. This checklist keeps you honest while the potato is hot, because the best deals are the deals you don't buy. A good list surfaces the seller's problems before they become yours.
Back then it lived in my iPhone Notes. Today it's a Google Sheet my Claude Cowork setup produces on demand and sends me weekly. Same discipline, better delivery.
The rule hasn't changed: it must pass 100% before we buy. No exceptions. (Ask me how I know.)
Here's the checklist. Copy it, adapt it to your deals, and fly through your next DD with it: