Technical inspection before buying a home

The technical inspection of a dwelling generally consists of carrying out a complete examination of the property in order to determine the state of all its elements: the mechanical systems, the general disposition of the building and the aesthetic-environmental conditions. It is a useful information if you want to buy a home, but also if you want to sell, especially in these times when the market is more still than ever.

Certificates of Professional Inspection of Housing (IPV certificates) can therefore be a decisive factor in closing a buy-sell operation. You can hire both the buyer and the seller (or both, at the same time). For the buyer, it assumes the security that the property that interests him is in perfect condition, or the possibility of raising a possible discount if there were any defective elements. For its part, the seller can display this information to potential buyers as a guarantee that the home has no problem.

In summary, experts point out that the IPV certificate can benefit the following people:

• To the seller. It will expedite and facilitate the sale because it provides a differential fact about the other houses.
• To the buyer. You can reach a negotiation and get a more advantageous price. In addition, it is the buyer’s obligation to be well informed.
• Who rents. In case there are defects in the house, with this certificate it is possible to claim their amount.
• To who already has rented a house? You can know how you keep and maintain your estate during the lease period.

An optional certificate

The IPV certificate is the document that certifies the state of a home. It has been used in the main countries of the world for years, as a security measure in the operations of renting, buying or selling, and now also in Spain. In general, it is recommended that the inspection be carried out before requesting a loan, in this way, any problems that the housing will have will be detected before allocating time or money to obtain the financing. Often, it is the buyer who has the responsibility to pay for the independent inspection of the home.

The IPV report does not replace other technical reports or other documentation that is mandatory when conducting a home purchase transaction. Nor does it have anything to do with the inspections that can be done by an architect or a surveyor, because they follow the Technical Building Code, while the work of the Inspector in charge of the BTI contemplates other characteristics of a house, just as important, As a record of the state, operation and sanitation of the house being inspected. Nor should it be confused with the appraisal of a property, since an appraisal is an estimate of value by a professional appraiser.

Elements to inspect

What is an inspection?

The standard practice of inspectors requires inspectors to assess the status of a series of components of a home and submit a written report to the buyer. The IPV Inspector performs a detailed examination of the dwelling, which it reviews in its entirety, even in the intermediate areas. Check levels of acoustics, brightness, ambient humidity and carbon monoxide; Water, electricity and gas facilities; Check the condition of floors, walls, ceilings, tiling and baseboards, open and close doors, windows, blinds, drawers, furniture.

It also checks the proper functioning of appliances, heating, ventilation, toilets, faucets, siphons, drains, sanitation and general hygiene of the house. That is, it defines the general state of habitability of the dwelling and reflects it in a written and photographic report, easily understandable, that is called IPV certificate.

The Inspector IPV studies about 400 points in the report of rent of a house and about 550 points in the report of sale. The basic aspects that are reviewed are as follows:

• Central heating and air conditioning systems.
• Electric systems.
• Plumbing systems in the interior of the house.
• Walls, ceilings, floors and stairs inside the house.
• Visible insulation.
• Ventilation systems.
• Basement, attic and roof accessible.
• Wall coverings, flashings and moldings.
• Windows and doors.
• Drainage, water drainage and leveling of surfaces.

The person who hires this service should insist that all these points be detailed in the report provided by the inspector. In addition, it is highly recommended that you meet in person with the housing inspector after he or she has completed the study. In this way, you will have the opportunity to ask all the questions about any defect in the house and to obtain an estimate of the cost of the necessary repairs. It will also give you an opportunity to ask questions about maintenance. All these data are, for the buyer, a great utility to negotiate the final price with the seller.