Checklist: first inspection of an inherited apartment

When you inherit an apartment in Slovenia, the first practical step is to understand what exactly you have inherited and what state it is in. The first inspection gives you that picture. If you are abroad and cannot come in person, the inspection is done by a trusted person or a service — but it needs to be done to a structure, so that nothing is missed.

This article is a checklist for the first inspection. The overall plan for the first 30 days with an inherited apartment is covered in a separate article — here we go into the inspection itself in detail.

It draws on years of experience from the DomCare team inspecting and looking after inherited property in Slovenia.

Why a structured inspection matters

An inherited apartment has often stood unattended for some time, and over that period it may have built up problems. The first inspection does three things: it tells you the condition of the property, identifies what is urgent (what needs immediate action), and records a baseline for every decision and calculation that follows.

The golden rule of the inspection is to photograph everything. The photos are for you — for your decisions, for the insurer, for a future sale or rental.

The first-inspection checklist

Security and access

• Whether the apartment is securely locked, whether all keys are accounted for
• The condition of the front door and locks — any signs of a break-in
• Whether the locks should be changed (you don’t know who has copies)

Urgent risks — check these first

• Signs of a leak: water stains, wet patches, marks on ceilings and walls
• The state of the plumbing, whether anything is leaking
• Whether the heating works (critical if the inspection is in winter)
• A gas smell, signs of electrical problems
• Signs of damp and mould

Building systems

• Water: pressure, taps working, the state of visible pipes
• Electrics: the panel, sockets, lighting
• Heating: boiler/radiators, in working order
• Appliances: what works, what doesn’t
• All meter readings — recorded

General condition

• The state of walls, ceilings, floors, windows
• The general condition of the rooms
• The volume of belongings and furniture inside — to assess the future clearing

Documents and payments

• Find the documents relating to the apartment, contracts, the insurance policy
• Check whether there is any arrears on utility payments
• Information about the building manager

Personal items

• Note where documents, photographs and obviously personal or valuable items are — they are set aside separately and handed to the heir

Photo documentation

• Photograph each room in full
• Separately — all problem spots and urgent risks
• The meter readings

After the inspection

By the end of the inspection you should have a clear picture: the general condition, a list of urgent items (what needs to be dealt with immediately), an estimate of the clearing volume, and an understanding of the next steps. If the apartment will stand for a while as you make decisions, it makes sense to put it under basic property care straight away, so the property is not left unattended.

How DomCare helps

At DomCare, the first inspection of an inherited apartment is a One-off Visit with a detailed inspection against the checklist and a photo and video report: you get an honest picture of the property, even from another country. Next come clearing, cleaning and property care while the future of the property is decided. Our approach to inherited homes is careful: personal items and documents are set aside and handed to you. We work in Ljubljana, on the Slovenian Coast, in the Bled and Bohinj region, and in the Kranj region.

The easiest way to talk it through: message us through the form or on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

What should you check first when inspecting an inherited apartment? Urgent risks: signs of a leak, the state of the plumbing, whether the heating works (especially in winter), a gas smell, signs of damp. An inherited apartment may have stood unattended and built up problems.

Can the inspection be done if I’m abroad? Yes. A trusted person or service runs the inspection against a structured checklist, and you receive a detailed photo and video report.

Why photograph everything during the inspection? The photos are needed for your decisions, for the insurer and for a future sale or rental. They are a baseline, recorded as of the date you took on the apartment.

Should you change the locks in an inherited apartment? Usually yes: you don’t know who still has copies of the keys. Changing the locks is a sensible security measure.

What should you do after the inspection? Form a picture of the condition and the list of urgent items, estimate the clearing volume. If the apartment will stand while you decide its future — put it under basic property care.

The first inspection of an inherited apartment is not “popping in for a look” but a structured assessment against a checklist: security, urgent risks, systems, condition, documents, photo documentation. Done properly, it gives you an honest picture and a foundation for every decision that follows — even if you are a thousand kilometres away.

Need to inspect an inherited apartment in Slovenia — message us.

Sources and further reading

• Inherited an apartment in Slovenia: the first 30 days — the overall plan
• Clearing an apartment and cellar in Slovenia — the next step
• DomCare — One-off Visit — inspecting the property
• DomCare — About us — our experience supporting inherited property