Home inspection before buying, taking handover or making a claim

It is a systematic, on-site technical examination of a home to identify defects, issues and risks before a decision such as buying it, accepting it from the developer or making a claim. The inspector checks accessible spaces, finishes, the building envelope, damp, cracks and visible installations, recording findings in photographs. You receive a report locating each issue, assessing its seriousness and, if commissioned, estimating the cost of repair. It is a private inspection and does not replace the building's mandatory Inspección Técnica de Edificios (ITE).

We examine the accessible parts of the property: visible structure for cracks or deformation; façades, terraces and roofs where access is possible; windows, doors, closures and seals; floors, wall tiles, walls and ceilings for hollow areas, uneven tile edges or poor flatness; and signs of water penetration, rising damp or condensation. Electrical installations, plumbing, drainage and heating or cooling are checked insofar as they can be seen and tested without dismantling anything. Each finding is photographed and recorded with its exact location.

The inspection is non-destructive: we do not break into walls, lift floors or dismantle installations. It does not include laboratory tests, structural calculations, Land Registry or planning checks, or examination of inaccessible elements such as enclosed ceiling voids or roofs without safe access. If a visible sign suggests a problem that cannot be confirmed by observation alone, the report explains this and recommends the appropriate further investigation or specialist.

This depends on the property's size, age and condition. An average-sized flat usually takes between two and three hours, while a detached house or a property with a garden, terraces and garage may require longer. The quote includes an estimated duration. Avoid scheduling another appointment immediately afterwards: if something needs closer attention, it is helpful to have enough time to examine it carefully during the same visit.

Attendance is not compulsory, but being there at least towards the end of the visit is recommended. You can see the main findings first-hand and ask questions. What matters is that someone provides access, whether the seller, estate agent or developer. If you live outside Spain or cannot travel, we can arrange a video call during the visit and send you the report with all the photographs.

You receive a report listing numbered issues, each with its location, photographs, description and level of seriousness. Findings are organised so that you can distinguish urgent, important and minor matters. If commissioned, the report also includes an indicative repair cost broken down by work item. It is designed for practical use: negotiating the price, requesting snagging repairs from the developer, or deciding whether to proceed with the purchase.

No. The Inspección Técnica de Edificios (ITE) and Informe de Evaluación del Edificio (IEE) are mandatory assessments of the whole building, required by regulations once it reaches a certain age and commissioned by the comunidad de propietarios (owners' association). Our inspection is a private service concerning an individual home, intended for a purchase, new-build handover or defect claim. However, if the building has an ITE or IEE, request a copy: it provides important information about its condition.

No, and nobody can honestly guarantee this. An inspection significantly reduces risk by identifying visible issues and signs of concealed problems, but it cannot see inside walls or predict future failures. The report therefore identifies areas that could not be examined and checks worth carrying out afterwards. If a defect concealed by the seller emerges after purchase, it may be claimed as a vicio oculto, a hidden defect under Spanish law.