Property inspection checklist before purchase

Property Details

☐ Exact property address
☐ Asking price
☐ Year of construction
☐ How long has the property been on the market?
☐ Has the asking price changed?
☐ Reason for sale
☐ Is the property currently vacant or occupied?

Property Size & Areas

☐ Total registered floor area (m²)
☐ Actual measured floor area (m²)
☐ Floor area stated in the title deed
☐ Floor area stated in the building permit / approved plans
☐ Floor area stated in the Electronic Building Identity
☐ Main-use areas vs. auxiliary-use areas
☐ Ground-floor area
☐ Basement area
☐ Storage areas
☐ Mezzanine, if applicable
☐ Verify that the actual layout matches the approved plans

Building Permit & Legality

☐ Building permit number and year
☐ Copies of approved architectural plans / floor plans
☐ Electronic Building Identity / Electronic Identity of the Independent Property Unit
☐ Check for unauthorized constructions or alterations
☐ Ask whether any legalization or regularization procedure has taken place
☐ Obtain documentation for any legalized/regularized areas
☐ Verify any changes to the original internal layout
☐ Verify the legal use of every part of the property
☐ Check whether any change of use has been legally approved

Basement

☐ Exact basement area
☐ Legal designation/use of the basement
☐ Clear ceiling height
☐ Ventilation
☐ Natural light
☐ Signs of damp or water ingress
☐ Drainage condition
☐ Access to the basement
☐ Internal staircase connecting basement and ground floor
☐ Verify that the internal connection is legally approved
☐ Check whether the basement has ever flooded

Ownership & Legal Documentation

☐ Current title deed
☐ Horizontal Property Ownership Deed / Condominium Deed
☐ Condominium / building regulations
☐ Ownership percentage in the building/plot
☐ Exclusive-use areas, if any
☐ Ancillary spaces belonging to the property
☐ Cadastral registration details
☐ KAEK (National Cadastre property identification number)
☐ Check for mortgages
☐ Check for mortgage pre-notations
☐ Check for liens or seizures
☐ Check for third-party claims or other encumbrances
☐ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), where required

Structural & General Condition

☐ Cracks in walls
☐ Cracks in columns or beams
☐ Ceiling condition
☐ Signs of structural movement or settlement
☐ Condition of floors
☐ Condition of walls and plaster
☐ Recently painted areas that may conceal defects
☐ General condition of the building
☐ Approximate renovation requirements

Damp & Water Problems

☐ Damp on walls
☐ Mould
☐ Salt deposits / efflorescence
☐ Peeling or swollen plaster
☐ Water stains on ceilings
☐ Water ingress around windows
☐ Basement damp
☐ Previous flooding incidents
☐ Ask whether insurance claims have ever been made for water damage

Electrical Installation

☐ Electrical panel condition
☐ Age of electrical installation
☐ Single-phase or three-phase supply
☐ Available electrical capacity
☐ Condition and number of sockets
☐ Electrical installation certificate, if available
☐ Determine whether rewiring is required

Plumbing & Drainage

☐ Age of plumbing installation
☐ Water pressure
☐ Visible leaks
☐ Condition of pipes
☐ WC condition
☐ Drainage condition
☐ Unpleasant drain smells
☐ History of blocked drains
☐ Risk of sewage/water backflow into the basement

Heating, Cooling & Ventilation

☐ Existing heating system
☐ Air-conditioning units
☐ Age and condition of equipment
☐ Mechanical ventilation, if applicable
☐ Adequate ventilation of basement and internal areas

Façade & Commercial Visibility

☐ Measure total frontage
☐ Measure shop-window frontage
☐ Visibility from the street
☐ Pedestrian visibility
☐ Vehicle visibility
☐ Possibility of installing business signage
☐ Condition of shop windows and frames
☐ Security shutters / security systems
☐ Natural light inside the property

Access & Parking

☐ Width of main entrance
☐ Steps at entrance
☐ Accessibility for people with disabilities
☐ Loading/unloading possibilities
☐ Private parking spaces
☐ Exclusive-use parking spaces
☐ Street parking availability
☐ Confirm whether any parking space legally belongs to the property

Outdoor / Front Areas

☐ Check any front setback area (“prasia”)
☐ Determine whether it is privately owned, for exclusive use, or common property
☐ Check whether outdoor space can legally be used by the property
☐ Check access rights

Building / Condominium

☐ Condition of building façade
☐ Condition of entrance and common areas
☐ Roof condition
☐ Elevator condition
☐ Common plumbing installations
☐ Common drainage installations
☐ Monthly common expenses / service charges
☐ Any outstanding extraordinary expenses
☐ Planned major repairs
☐ Decisions already taken by the owners’ assembly
☐ Restrictions imposed by the building regulations

Commercial Use

☐ Is the intended business use legally permitted?
☐ Are there restrictions under the condominium regulations?
☐ Are additional licences required for the intended use?
☐ Nearby businesses and commercial activity
☐ Vacant commercial properties nearby
☐ Pedestrian traffic
☐ Vehicle traffic
☐ Public transport access
☐ General commercial attractiveness of the location

Existing Lease / Occupancy

☐ Is the property vacant?
☐ Is there an existing tenant?
☐ If leased, obtain a copy of the lease agreement
☐ Current monthly rent
☐ Lease expiry date
☐ Deposit held
☐ Tenant termination rights
☐ Confirm whether the property will be delivered vacant

During the Viewing

☐ Take photographs of every room/area
☐ Photograph the basement carefully
☐ Photograph any cracks or damp areas
☐ Photograph the electrical panel
☐ Photograph plumbing installations where visible
☐ Photograph the façade and shop windows
☐ Photograph common areas
☐ Take a continuous walkthrough video
☐ Measure key dimensions with a laser meter
☐ Measure frontage
☐ Measure ground-floor ceiling height
☐ Measure basement ceiling height
☐ Note any unusual smells
☐ Spend a few minutes listening for external/internal noise

Before Making an Offer

☐ Estimate renovation costs
☐ Compare asking price with comparable properties
☐ Calculate price per m² separately for main-use and auxiliary areas where appropriate
☐ Do not automatically value basement space at the same €/m² as ground-floor main-use space
☐ Confirm the exact legal floor area
☐ Confirm the permitted use of all areas
☐ Confirm that alterations have been legally regularized
☐ Have an independent engineer inspect the property
☐ Have a lawyer perform a full title and encumbrance search
☐ Have the notary verify the documentation required for the transfer
☐ Calculate total acquisition cost, including taxes, legal/notarial fees, engineering costs and renovation
☐ Determine the maximum purchase price only after the technical and legal checks

Before Paying a Deposit

☐ Do not rely solely on statements made by the seller or real estate agent
☐ Specify in writing what property and areas are being purchased
☐ Specify the agreed purchase price
☐ Specify the amount of the deposit
☐ Establish clearly whether and under what circumstances the deposit is refundable
☐ Make the offer subject to satisfactory legal and technical due diligence where appropriate
☐ Do not proceed solely because of pressure that “another buyer is interested”

Final Professional Due Diligence

☐ Independent engineer: technical and planning-law inspection
☐ Lawyer: ownership/title and encumbrance search
☐ Notary: transfer documentation and contractual requirements
☐ Accountant/tax adviser: tax implications where necessary
☐ Final valuation based on verified legal area, permitted use, condition and renovation requirements