What to check on a house before buying it
What gets checked on a house before buying it, from the roof and envelope to the basement and visible installations, and what falls outside a non-invasive visual inspection.
For a house, checks before buying cover the roof covering and visible roof elements, the condition of façades and the plinth, joinery, interior walls and ceilings, floors, accessible installations, the attic and basement where access exists, and outdoor arrangements that affect water drainage from the plot.
Compared to an apartment, a house has more elements directly exposed to the weather and more areas where water can reach places it shouldn't. For this reason, the check pays attention to the water's path: from the roof and gutters, along the façade, down to the plinth and the ground around the building.
Findings are documented with photographs and described factually. Where the service includes moisture measurements or thermography, these complement the visual observation without automatically turning it into a diagnosis.
Where the modules are included in the contracted service, we also note the ambient noise level in dB, in the centre of each room, as an indicative measurement of acoustic comfort (it is not a sound insulation test and does not certify acoustic compliance), as well as the GSM/4G/5G mobile signal on the Orange and Vodafone networks at the time of the visit, with no guarantee regarding future coverage.
What you need to know
Inspecting a house before buying is a visual, non-invasive check of accessible elements, both inside and outside. It covers the building envelope, the roof visible from ground level or from a drone when the service includes this module, walls and ceilings, floors, joinery, visible installations, the accessible attic and basement, and the outdoor areas adjacent to the building.
The result is a report describing what was observed, where, how extensive the defect appears to be, and what it might indicate, along with proportional recommendations. It is not a certified technical expert assessment and does not evaluate the legal or cadastral status of the property.
When it's useful
- before the preliminary contract, when the renovation budget can still be negotiated
- for older houses, where successive interventions have altered the original construction
- for newly built houses, to document visible workmanship defects
- for houses left unoccupied for a long time, where lack of ventilation leaves traces
- when there is a finished attic, a lived-in basement, or later extensions
What we check and document
- visible roof: covering, ridges, flashing elements, chimneys, gutters and downpipes
- façades: cracks, detached plaster, stains, repaired areas, apparent condition of the insulation system where present
- plinth and the base of walls: visible dampness, peeling, perimeter pavement
- exterior joinery: sealing, sills, window ledges, operation
- interior: walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, areas under windows and in corners
- accessible attic: traces of infiltration on the roof sheathing and visible timber elements, ventilation, visible insulation
- accessible basement or semi-basement: dampness, efflorescence, ventilation, visible installations
- accessible installations: electrical panel, boiler checked visually, radiators, sanitary fixtures, valves
- immediate exterior: apparent ground slopes, drainage, areas where water stagnates
BuildScan inspections are visual, non-invasive and non-destructive: we check what is visible and accessible at the time of the visit, without dismantling or breaking into finishes.
Signs worth investigating
- stains on the ceiling of the top floor or on the attic sheathing
- white efflorescence on basement walls or on the plinth
- cracks that cross the corners of openings or repeat along the same line
- deformed gutters, detached downpipes, or discharge right next to the plinth
- detached plaster in low areas of the façade
- musty smell in the attic, basement, or an unused room
- obvious differences between an extension and the original body of the house
These signs point to areas worth attention, not conclusions. We document the observed fact, correlate it with other findings, and state what would be needed for clarification.
What the inspection can confirm
The inspection can confirm the visible condition of the house's accessible elements on the date of the visit: finish defects, visible degradation of the façade or of the roof covering observable from accessible positions, traces of dampness, the operation of elements that can be safely tested, and, where the service includes them, measured moisture values or thermographic images of the surfaces checked.
What the inspection CANNOT confirm
A visual inspection cannot confirm the condition of foundations, the structure hidden within walls, buried waterproofing, hidden installations, or layers covered by finishes. It cannot determine load-bearing capacity, cannot guarantee a roof's watertightness under rain conditions that were not observed, and cannot confirm the cause of dampness when its source is not accessible.
Common mistakes
- viewing the house only in dry weather, without asking how it behaves in rain
- ignoring the attic and basement because "they're empty"
- checking only the renovated interior, without a full walk around the house
- assuming an extension has the same build quality as the original body
- estimating repair costs before knowing whether a defect is local or extensive
Quick checklist for viewing a house
Exterior and roof
- walk fully around the house and photograph each façade
- check the gutters, downpipes, and where the water discharges
- check the plinth and the perimeter pavement
Attic and basement
- ask for access to the attic and look for traces of infiltration on visible elements
- check the basement for dampness, efflorescence, and ventilation
- notice whether there is visible insulation and how it's installed
Interior
- check the ceilings of the top floor
- look for cracks and note where they repeat
- open the windows and doors, including in unused rooms
Visible installations
- check the electrical panel and the presence of protective devices
- check the boiler's visible condition and the date of its last service, if documents exist
- open accessible valves and watch for leaks
When a specialist is needed
Cracks suggesting structural movement, interventions on load-bearing elements, situations requiring an assessment with official technical value, and installation issues requiring testing are all clarified by specialists: a designer, a certified technical expert, an electrician or an authorized plumber/heating technician, depending on the nature of the situation. The BuildScan inspection points out where such checks are justified.
How BuildScan can help
We document the condition of the house in a single visit and deliver a digital report structured by area, with photographs and recommendations proportional to what was found. For specific situations, we discuss in advance what the inspection can and cannot cover.