If you are asking yourself how do I do a property survey myself?
You have come to the right place and particularly if you are looking at properties in Portugal.
There is no need to be a Structural Engineer or a Surveyor if you want to carry out your own assessment of a Portuguese house for instance.
The less background knowledge and experience you have of course makes it more difficult but not impossible and if you think about it. We all do this informal “Survey” when we are looking at buying a home in our home countries.
The most important thing is to get the basics right.
You need to know what the property is made of stone or hollow brick and render.
Then think “GRAVITY” when you carry out your personal survey.
Starting at the top of the house and work downwards like gravity.
Walk around the outside of the property and if you can’t see all sides go onto adjoining land to make sure that you can. Take lots of zoomed in photos. You have brought your camera with you not a mobile phone!
We have covered the roof previously.
Now let’s start on the top floor.
Is the ceiling sagging. Stand at an external wall and look back across the ceiling if there is one. If not you will be able to get a good look at the condition of the roof timbers (discussed earlier).
Take great care in walking around these spaces falling through rotten floors is dangerous and very embarrassing if you have not already bought the property.
Look at all the walls for evidence of water having run down them.
Look at all the walls for evidence of cracking or leaning.
Look at all the walls for evidence of them moving away from the perimeter walls.
Are there any windows or doors that have been bricked up.
Do you have access to all the rooms in the house? If not tell the seller that you will not proceed unless you see everything.
Are the internal doors and door frames rotten or riddled with woodworm holes
Are the window frames rotten or riddled with woodworm holes. Is the glass in place.
Can you see little spots of sawdust on the floor.
Can you feel the floor sagging or moving as you walk over it.
Are there any wet patches on the floor.
The above is your list to get started on a survey and we are only at the top of the house!
If you would like a bigger check list please get in touch. If you would like Castelo Construction to take a look on your new home or a home that you are interested in buying we can do that even if you are not here in Portugal.
Our written reports with lots of photographs enable you to make a quick decision on the purchase price and whether to buy or not.
