Visiting a flat already in love leads to overpaying and overlooking defects. Visit it with method: a checklist on your phone, a measuring tape and your eyes on what costs money to fix. Here are the 30 points.
What to bring to the visit
- Your phone for photos and notes (and to analyze the address).
- Tape measure or laser meter.
- Phone charger to test sockets.
- This checklist and, if you can, visit at different times of day.
The home: 12 points
- Real orientation and natural light (not the listing's).
- Damp: stains, smell, blistered paint (check ceilings and corners).
- Cracks in walls and ceilings (diagonal ones are more worrying).
- Windows: close properly, double glazing, insulation.
- Floors: level, no loose tiles.
- Doors: open/close without rubbing (sign of structural movement).
- Condition of bathrooms and kitchen (the most expensive to renovate).
- Real surface area vs advertised (measure key rooms).
- Exterior vs interior and what the windows look onto.
- Noise with the window open and closed.
- Closets and storage.
- Smells (damp, pipes, tobacco).
Installations: 8 points
- Electrical panel: modern or old (old fuses = needs renewal).
- Sockets: test several with the charger.
- Water pressure: open taps and the shower.
- Hot water: boiler/heater, age.
- Heating: type, condition, cost.
- Gas: installation and valid inspection.
- Drains: that they drain well.
- Internet / mobile coverage.
The building: 6 points
- Facade and entrance: state of conservation.
- Lift: present, condition, reaches your floor.
- Stairway and common areas.
- Interior courtyard: damp, drainpipes.
- Year of the building (ITE, aluminosis, asbestos depending on era).
- Signs of recent or pending works (special assessments).
Surroundings and questions: 4 points
- Nearby transport, shops and services.
- Surrounding noise at different times of day.
- Ask about community fees and approved special assessments.
- Ask how long it has been on sale and the reason for selling.
Before or after the visit, analyze the address
While visiting, enter the address in the analyzer: it gives you the year of the building, whether the ITE is mandatory, the risk of aluminosis/asbestos, the area €/m² and a checklist. Objective data to complement your eyes.
Analyze the flat →Frequently asked questions
How many times should you view a flat before buying?
At least twice: one for the first impression and another with this checklist and, if possible, at a different time of day to assess light and noise.
What is the most expensive thing to fix?
Structural issues and installations: persistent damp, old wiring and plumbing, and building problems (facade, ITE). An ugly kitchen or bathroom can be renovated; a structural crack is another league.
Can I measure the flat myself?
Yes, bring a tape measure or laser meter and check the surface of key rooms against the advertised and registry figures.
Editorial notice. Practical orientation guide (2026). It does not replace a professional technical inspection. Listing Barcelona is an editorial and independent platform.