Checklist: Pre-Purchase Apartment Inspection for Buyers

A property listing shows the apartment the way the seller wants it shown. The real condition only becomes clear during an inspection on the ground. For a buyer — especially a remote one — a pre-purchase inspection is the chance to see the truth before any money is committed.

This article is a practical pre-purchase inspection checklist. It works both for inspecting the property yourself and as a guide for whoever inspects it on your behalf if you’re buying remotely.

Important: this checklist is about the physical condition of the property. The legal checks (clean title, documents) are the job of the notary (notar) and lawyer (advokat). For more on the role of practical buyer support, see the separate article.

The article draws on years of experience from the DomCare team in inspecting properties for buyers in Slovenia.

Why a structural inspection matters before the deal

An emotional inspection (“do I like it or not”) and a structural inspection are two different things. A structural inspection against a checklist notices what doesn’t catch the eye but affects future costs: the condition of the systems, hidden problems, the real age of things that look new. Better to spend time on the inspection than to discover problems after the deal.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist

General condition

• Walls, ceilings, floors — cracks, unevenness, cosmetic work covering up problems
• Windows — condition, type of glazing, how they close, condensation between the panes
• Doors — the front door and the internal ones
• Signs of damp and mould — corners, external walls, the bathroom, behind furniture

Damp — pay separate attention

• A musty smell
• Stains and marks on walls and ceilings
• The condition of the most vulnerable spots (lower floors, north-facing walls)

Building systems

• Heating: type, age, condition, whether it works
• Water: pressure, condition of visible pipes, taps
• Electrics: the fuse box, the state of the wiring, whether there are enough outlets
• Water heater: age, condition
• Ventilation

Plumbing and kitchen

• Condition of the plumbing, signs of leaks
• Condition of the kitchen and built-in appliances, if they stay

The building and surroundings

• Condition of the entrance, staircase and common areas
• The floor, lift, parking
• The courtyard, the building’s façade from outside
• Noise, surroundings, the neighbourhood in real life

What to find out, not just inspect

• The age of the building and when various things were last updated
• The type of heating and the rough running costs
• Whether there’s a building manager, and the size of the contributions and reserve fund
• What furniture and appliances are staying

Recording

• Detailed photographs of every room
• Separately — everything that raised a question
• For a remote purchase — a video call during the inspection, so you can “walk through” the property in real time

What the inspection does not replace

Let’s be honest about the limits. A checklist-based pre-purchase inspection is a careful inspection by a trained person, but it does not replace: a thorough structural and technical survey, a legal check on the property, or a valuation. The inspection gives an honest picture of the visible condition and helps you make a decision — but for a thorough technical survey, a specialist is brought in.

How DomCare helps

At DomCare, a pre-purchase inspection is part of Buyer Assistance. If you’re buying remotely, we inspect the property against this checklist on your behalf, produce a detailed photo and video report, and run the inspection on a video call so you can see the property in real time and ask questions. We’re not estate agents or lawyers — we give an independent view of the physical condition of the property before you commit any money. After the purchase — preparation and Property Care. 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’s the most important thing to check in an apartment before buying? The real condition of the systems (heating, water, electrics), signs of damp and mould, and the state of the structure — the things that affect future costs and aren’t always visible from the listing.

Can a property be inspected before purchase if I’m not in Slovenia? Yes. The checklist inspection is carried out by a representative on your behalf, with a detailed photo and video report and a real-time video call.

Does an inspection replace a technical survey? No. A checklist inspection is a careful inspection by a trained person. For a thorough structural and technical survey, a specialist is brought in.

Who checks the legal status of the property? The notary and the lawyer. The checklist in this article is about the physical condition, not the legal side.

What deserves particular attention? Damp and mould — a common hidden problem — and the age of the building systems, which determines future costs.

A checklist-based pre-purchase inspection turns a “buying from photos” purchase into an informed decision. It notices what the listing doesn’t show: the real condition of the systems, damp, hidden problems. For a remote buyer, this is the chance to see the truth about the property before any money is committed.

Considering a purchase in Slovenia — message us, and we’ll inspect the property on your behalf.

Sources and further reading

• Buyer assistance: before, during and after the deal — practical support for buyers
• Apartment inspection: 24 checkpoints — the inspection method
• DomCare — Buyer Assistance — what the service covers
• DomCare — About us — our experience inspecting properties for buyers