Checklist: things to think about when buying a property

When you are looking to buy a property, there are so many aspects to consider that it is easy to miss something important. To help you avoid this pitfall, here’s a checklist of the main elements to bear in mind during your search.

The property

• • Date of construction
  • Any renovation work carried out
  • Any maintenance contracts (septic tank)
  • The exterior (roof, shared spaces, land)
  • The interior (floors, ceilings, walls, windows, piping, heat and sound insulation, damp, orientation, etc.)
  • Planning permission (annexe, garage, pool, etc.)
  • Rules of the owners’ association and the minutes of the general meeting
  • An appraisal of the property’s value compared to the asking price
  • The energy performance certificate

The site

• • In a subdivision/single plot
  • Soil type
  • Buildable land/existing building permits
  • Connection to utilities
  • Exact boundaries of the property
  • Any easements

The environment

• • Existing infrastructure (shops, services, leisure facilities, etc.)
  • Public transport
  • Planned urban development
  • Known risks (flooding, etc.)

The financing (see the dedicated checklist)

Questions to ask the seller

• • Why are you selling?
  • How long has the property been on the market?
  • What does the sale include?
  • What monthly charges do you pay? (water, energy, etc.)
  • What local taxes?
  • Are there any problems or is any renovation work required?
  • Any particular nuisances?
  • Any conflicts with the neighbours?

Expert involvement

• • Architects/contractors
  • Surveyor
  • Bankers
  • Notary
  • Energy adviser

For further information on the subject, check out our special feature on real estate on myLIFE. We hope you enjoy the read!