Buying a resale home: what to check at the viewing and in the paperwork
Structure, damp, plumbing, electrics, building fees and documents: what to check before making an offer on a resale home in Portugal.
Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase of your life, and it is often decided after two short viewings. In a resale home, the most expensive problems are rarely in plain sight. This list helps you know where to look and what to ask for before making an offer.
At the viewing: the building
- Facade and roof: large cracks, falling render, dark streaks from running water.
- Shared areas: stairs, entrance, lift. A well-kept building usually has a building management (condomínio) that works.
- Garage and basement: damp, leaks, musty smell.
At the viewing: the home
- Damp and mould: ceilings, corners, behind furniture, bathrooms. See the guide to damp.
- Cracks: fine cracks in plaster are common; cracks that go through walls, run diagonally near doors and windows, or come back after painting need a professional.
- Floors: soft spots, loose parquet, uneven levels.
- Plumbing: run the taps, check pressure, hot water and under the sinks. Old pipes can mean major work.
- Electrics: an old fuse box, few sockets or visible wiring point to an installation that needs renewing.
- Windows and insulation: single glazing and worn frames mean cold and high bills. See the guide to energy certificates.
Tip: visit at least twice, once on a rainy day or just after, and once in the evening. Many problems only show up then. See why you should view at night too.
Questions and documents to ask for
- Minutes of building meetings (atas do condomínio) for the last few years: they reveal building problems, disputes and works approved or postponed.
- Building fees and any debts, and whether planned works will be charged to the owners.
- Certidão permanente do registo predial (land registry certificate): confirms the owner and whether there are mortgages or liens.
- Caderneta predial (tax record) and licença de utilização (habitation licence, or the document exempting older buildings).
- Ficha técnica da habitação (technical file), for more recent buildings.
- Energy certificate.
- What work has been done on the home, when and by whom.
Your bank, a lawyer or a solicitor can help check the documents. For the technical side, an inspection by an engineer or surveyor costs little compared with the price of the home.
Before you decide
Search the address on SherlockHomes: you will see what other people observed in that building, plus public data for the area such as noise, transport, short-term rentals and median rent. And record your viewings in the diary to compare homes calmly.