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Before buying a property: My advice to clients
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By João Carvalho CEO of Blepo
At Blepo, we work daily with people who are about to take one of the most important steps of their lives: buying or renting a home.
And there is one reality I have learned over time, it is not the lack of opportunities that creates problems, but the lack of preparation.
We have seen “perfect” homes that, just few months later, revealed serious water leaks and moisture intrusion. We have seen clients fall in love with locations that become partially flooded during winter. And we have seen quick decisions turn into years of frustration.
For that reason, here are what I consider to be the essentials, in a very practical way:
1. Location should not just be “good”, it must be safe.
Many buyers focus on proximity to work, transport links, and amenities. All that matters. But there is a more critical question: is this property located in an environmental risk area?
Before making any decision, my advice is to check flood maps, proximity to watercourses, and the area’s history, its easy now with some AI research.
Because the truth is very simple: a good location today can become a problem tomorrow.
2. Never assess a house on a sunny day alone
This is a classic mistake. A house may look immaculate during a quick viewing; clean, freshly painted, bright. But its real behavior only becomes apparent over time. Whenever possible, visit on different days, understand how the house responds to rain and cold, and look for subtle signs of damp.
3. You are not just buying the house you are also buying the building This is particularly critical in apartments.
We have seen clients purchase apartments that were in excellent condition internally, but located in buildings with deteriorated roofs, leaks in common areas, and structural issues. It is essential to understand the condition of the building and its construction method.
4. Neighbours often know more than any listing
Speaking to neighbours is one of the most effective ways to avoid problems. Ask directly about damp, flooding, and the condition of the building.
5. Learn to be (slightly) skeptical
Some warning signs we always recommend looking at carefully include recently painted walls, musty smells, cracks, or concealed marks.
6. Information is protection
Today, there are accessible tools that allow you to verify much of what was once difficult to assess. The more you know beforehand, the fewer risks you take afterwards.
7. Buying a home is an emotional decision but it cannot be only one.
A balanced decision combines emotion with analysis.
Conclusion
The goal is not to find the perfect home. It is to avoid the problematic one. Buying a house can be an excellent decision, but only when it is made with information, time, critical thinking, and, ideally, the support of qualified professionals.
See better. Decide better with Blepo.
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