10 December 2025

Essential information and preparation for visits

Minimum documents to be requested

Before falling in love with a house, check that on paper it is a healthy property. Some documents should always be available:

  • Updated cadastral plan.
  • Cadastral survey with property data and holders.
  • Mortgage searches to verify mortgages or foreclosures.
  • Energy Performance Certificate (APE).
  • Minutes of condominium meetings in recent years, to understand the climate and planned works.
  • Any system certifications (electrical, gas, boiler).

    • If basic documents are systematically missing or sellers take time to provide them, it is a signal that deserves further investigation.

    How to prepare for the visit

    The visit is not a tourist walk: it is the moment when you cross what you see with what you have read on the documents.

    Before you go:

  • Study the area on the map (shops, public transport, schools, parking lots).
  • Verification of traffic schedules and possible critical issues (noise, nightlife, etc.).
  • Review the floor plan and mentally compare it to the photos.

    • During the visit, he or she will concretely verify:

  • Exposure and brightness at different times of the day.
  • Indoor (neighboring) and outdoor (street, business) noises.
  • State of fixtures and windows (thermal and acoustic insulation).
  • Any signs of moisture or seepage.
  • Storage spaces (closets, cellar, attic).

    • Evaluate the property objectively

    The most common mistake is to be guided only by emotion. To balance the choice, always accompany an objective evaluation.

    Three levers to keep under control:

  • Realistic price/sqm: compare with similar properties actually sold in the area, not just advertised.
  • Cost of the works: economically quantifies the necessary interventions (it is not enough to say "to be reviewed").
  • Future potential: growing or declining area? Will the property be easily resellable in 5–10 years?