In Spain, the pre-purchase property inspection (a survey, in UK terms) is still a minority practice compared with countries such as the US or the UK, where it's standard in every transaction. The result: buyers who discover damp, electrics that don't comply with regulations or structural problems after signing, when putting things right is extremely expensive. The cost of an inspection (€300-600) can save you tens of thousands.
What a full pre-purchase inspection should include
- Structure and waterproofing: Cracks, leaks, condition of the roof and floor slabs.
- Electrical installation: Compliance with the current REBT (Spain's low-voltage electrical regulations), capacity of the consumer unit, condition of the wiring.
- Plumbing and drainage: Pressure, age of the pipes, condition of the drains.
- Windows and doors: How airtight the windows are, condition of the frames.
- Damp: Internal (condensation), external (rising damp, leaks through the roof).
- Heating and air conditioning: Condition and age of the boiler, radiators, split units.
- Observed energy efficiency: Insulation, orientation.
Who carries it out and how much it costs
The inspection should be carried out by a qualified professional: an architect, an arquitecto técnico (a building surveyor) or an engineer with specific experience in building defects. In Spain there are specialist firms (Housell Inspections, Arquitasa, independent technical decorators). The cost ranges between €300 and €600 for a flat of 60-100m².
How to use the results
An inspection report with documented and costed defects gives you solid grounds to negotiate a price reduction equivalent to the cost of putting the defects right, ask the seller to repair them before completion, or pull out of the deal if the defects are structural and serious (as long as the contract includes this as a condition for cancelling the sale).
Full due diligence: Read the due diligence guide for investors and use RadarPro for the registry analysis and the market valuation.
Buy with data, not gut feeling
RadarPro combines algorithmic calculations and artificial intelligence to analyse the market and spot the best property opportunities.
Create a free account →
