Buying an apartment, the important things to check during the visit

The essential points to check when viewing an apartment for purchase

When visiting an apartment you want to buy, especially if you like the apartment or house, don't let yourself be distracted by the mere pleasure of having finally found the rare pearl. Here is a selection of advice from experts in the Parisian real estate sector to keep with you before buying a house or an apartment. What are the questions to ask yourself? What are the points to check?

What to look for when buying an apartment?

The environment of the apartment

Take time to stroll around the neighborhood. Check if you find nearby the shops and amenities (nursery, school, gym, etc.) that are important to you. Do not hesitate to ask the owner to find out about the reputation of the neighborhood: planned urban planning projects (creation of a park), burglaries and acts of vandalism,... There is nothing like having the feelings of the former owner or even the neighbors to better understand your future neighborhood as well as the possible increase in value of your future real estate property.

Is the property to be found Close to public transport ? This is an important point to improve the valuation of a property, but also a faster resale. In general, it is considered that being 800 meters away from home by public transport is considered to be a respectable distance.

Buildings and condominiums: two major challenges when buying a property

Questions to ask yourself:

Is the facade in good condition? In the city, buildings are renovated every 10 to 15 years. Do not forget to go to the courtyard side and also check the condition of the facades. Identify damaged areas and cracks, if any, and ask when was the last work done. How to assess whether a condominium is functioning properly. A simple sign: a well-maintained and clean building generally reveals a quality condominium. If this is not the case ATTENTION.

Ask for the amount of condominium fees and what they involve (maintenance, heating, water, garden maintenance...) in order to assess whether they are excessive or not. The presence of a caretaker or caretaker is also a point to check when buying an apartment and is a guarantee of quality with respect to the maintenance and quality of the building. Regarding security, the following points should be checked when buying your property: intercom, armoured door, digicode,... These points may seem trivial to you but when you know the number of burglaries in Paris, you can never be too careful.

In addition, take a look at the elevator, check that it works properly, that it meets the standards to avoid any unpleasant surprises, especially if you buy an apartment on the 6th floor. One last point when you visit an old apartment: remember to look at the cellars. The condition of the cellars is indicative of the good condition of condominiums in old buildings: during a visit, ask to see them. The apartment: the essential points to check. Clarity and calm are the two most important aspects for buyers.

When it comes to clarity, it's good to know that a northern exposure doesn't mean a dark apartment. The sun, on the other hand, will not enter the apartment.
If the lights are on in the apartment, ask to have them turned off to check the brightness. The main source of light being the sky, the more it is visible from a window the brighter the apartment will be.
For external noise pollution, if you live in Ile-de-France, you can consult Noise mapping.

As far as noise pollution from buildings is concerned, they will depend on the civility of the co-owners who will be your neighbors. We recommend that you Visit the apartment at the end of the day, these are generally the moments of greatest movement in buildings. When you want to buy an apartment, it is also essential to check the living rooms such as the kitchen and the bathroom as well as the various equipment that compose them. Check the condition of the plumbing (faucets, shower, toilet), floor coverings. Another tip is to ask for water bills in order to better understand your future expenses.

Another crucial point when buying an apartment is the control of the heating as well as the various installations to ensure good thermal insulation of the property: your comfort but also the condition of your wallet depend on it.

Things to check before buying:

• The condition of the boiler
• The number of radiators and their location
• The presence of a chimney
• Type of heating (individual, collective, floor)
• The average bill amount
• Wall insulation
• Presence of double glazing on the windows (thermal and acoustic comfort)

As you can see, buying an apartment is not an easy task. There are many points to check when you want to acquire real estate. The last piece of advice from our experts is to have a friend who works in the real estate sector or even in the building sector accompany you in order not to make any mistakes when buying an apartment or a house.