Living on a Whitby ravine
A walk-out changes both the house and the rules around it. The lower level gains full windows and a door to the yard, which is why so many are finished as a second living room, a home office or an in-law suite, and why buyers pay attention to how the grade drains: look for a proper swale, downspouts that discharge away from the foundation, a sump pump with a working float and no staining on the lower-level slab. Many ravine lots in Whitby fall inside the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority's regulated area, which means a deck extension, a shed, a pool or any fill near the crest of the slope needs the authority's permission on top of the Town's permit. Ask whether a previous owner added anything without it. Check the erosion setback on the survey, whether the fence line is the property line, and how the lot performed in the spring melt. Then enjoy the view, which is the reason you are paying more.