Viewing a home: the complete checklist before you buy

The area

• Transport, schools, shops, hospital: how far really?
• Noise (road, café, building site): come back at another time, in the evening or at the weekend.
• Easy parking or a parking space included?

The building

• Condition of the common areas, façade and stairwell.
• Working lift, secure access, caretaker.
• Amount of the service charges and an active managing agent (syndic).

The home

• Orientation and light: ideally several openings.
• Damp: stains on the ceiling, musty smell, blistering paint.
• Electrics: recent fuse board, enough sockets.
• Plumbing: water pressure, pipes, water heater.
• Windows, insulation, air conditioning.
• Actual area compared with the listing and the land title.

Documents to ask for

• Land title and a recent ownership certificate.
• Floor plan and, for a recent building, the occupancy permit.
• Latest service-charge statements and the co-ownership rules.
• Up-to-date tax receipts.

Questions to ask

• Why is the owner selling, and how long has the property been on the market?
• Is any work planned in the building?
• Is the price negotiable?

On Immofind, compare properties with the match score and save your favourites to prepare your viewings.