Your Pre-Purchase Property Checklist And Guidelines
The overwhelming majority of residential property buyers use their property purchase experience in Israel as a starting point. While it does prove helpful, each country has its own specifics which must be taken into account.
We’ve put together a set of guidelines for checking a property in Cyprus before you think about closing on the purchase.
A property with swimming pool
Properties may come with either a private pool or shared pool. This requires paying attention to several specific details.
1. The pool’s construction date. This will help assess the scope of anticipated maintenance costs.
2. The pool’s physical state on the purchase date.
3. Does it fall under the regulations requiring a lifeguard? That will be an added cost.
4. How frequent is maintenance to the pool’s surrounding areas?
5. Pool safety.
General pointers
1. An apartment under the building’s roof: are there any leaks?
2. Leaks around windows and / or external walls.
3. Correct hot water and cold water pressure in all taps. Low pressure in the shower, for example, likely indicates a breakdown in the water pump or the absence of a pumping system, a common situation in Cyprus, especially in standard buildings constructed before 2010. The cost of installing a system is in the € 1500 – 1700 range, which price should include installation of appropriate electrical lines.
4. Leaks in pipes and the sewage system.
5. Proper operation of all electrical switches and sockets throughout the apartment: turn all switches on and off, and insert an electrical device to check every socket.
6. Proper functioning of air conditions on heating and cooling modes. Ensure the air conditioner is not noisy: excessive noisiness indicates a breakdown waiting to happen.
7. Check beds and mattresses: don’t get lazy about that! Lie down and see if they’re comfortable.
8. Check that all electrical appliances in the apartment are working properly.
9. Check that furniture in the apartment is in good condition.
10. Are there sufficient electrical sockets in the house or would you need to add more? That’s a bargaining tool.
11. Check the solar panels. Go up onto the roof, make sure there are no leaks, that the panels are whole, and clean of scale.
12. Turn the hot water heater, washing machine and air conditioner on simultaneously for at least 10-15 minutes to make sure the overload switches don’t suddenly shut down.
13. How does the property smell in general? Can you catch a whiff of mold, which indicates dampness?
14. Overall maintenance of carpeting in public areas.
15. If the apartment comes with designated parking, is the apartment’s parking place clearly marked?
16. If the apartment has different internal levels, check that the stairs are in good order and that railings are stable and strong.
17. If the parking lot entrance is closed by an electrical gate, barrier, etc., check that it operates smoothly. If operated by a remote device, check the device’s proper functioning.
Summary
The suggestions made so far don’t require a professional’s assistance when it comes to apartment. We warmly recommend that you take the time to go through the checklist.
When it comes to private homes of any kind, especially ground huggers, we do suggest you use the services of a professional surveyor, which will cost € 500 – 1,000. This level of testing may cost more depending on the property’s complexity as far as the type and scope of installed systems. We can refer you to professionals able to carry out these tests.