Buying real estate: 6 key points for a successful visit

After weeks of research, we finally got an apartment visit. But an apartment cannot be bought lightly, especially since in Paris, the real estate market is particularly tight. Here it is our advice for visiting an apartment and ask the right questions!

1. Learn about the neighborhood
2. Pay attention to the facade and the common areas
3. Prepare your checklist
4. Check the insulation (door, window...) and the condition of the floors/walls
5. The budget for beautification work
6. Evaluate the price of charges, property and housing tax

Learn about the neighborhood

Before buying real estate, it is very important to check the environment of your future “home”. Look on a map where the building, the street, and the neighborhood are located. Also check the proximity to public transport, car parks, or Vélib' terminals. It is also important to consider neighborhood life: shops, bars, restaurants, leisure activities to assess whether the neighborhood can suit you or not.

We also recommend that you take a walk around the neighborhood day and night, during the week and at the weekend. Depending on the day and time, the atmosphere in your neighborhood may vary as well as its noise pollution.

Pay attention to the facade and the common areas

During your Apartment visit, first check the exterior facade and then the common areas: secure entrance, reinforced door, digicode, guard, letterboxes, stairs, corridor, corridor, corridor, courtyard or even the elevator. If business premises are located on the ground floor, find out about their activity. If it is a restaurant, a bar, or even a pharmacy, it is possible that you are exposed to noise, visual or olfactory pollution.

Thus, a complete tour of the building and the common areas is not negligible to avoid unpleasant surprises when signing at the notary.

Prepare your checklist

In case of stress or blanks, we advise you to prepare your checklist to avoid missing out on essential points! Write your questions in advance, you will save time while visiting the apartment. Are there a lot of owners in the apartment? What is the type of heating? What is the building's internet installation (fiber, TV sockets)? Ask for its exhibition, the water outlets in the apartment, etc....

Check the insulation (door, window...) and the condition of the floors/walls

During your House visit, open all the windows to check their operation and quality as well as the frames (wood, PVC, aluminum). Also, if you are sensitive to noise, listen carefully and check the quality of the insulation. Can you hear the neighbours, the cars driving?

To avoid missing out on old water damage or humidity problems, touch the floor, turn on the faucets, lift the carpet if there is one, and check that the apartment is free of moisture.

The budget for beautification work

To assess the work to beautify the apartment, you will need to draw up an estimate. Consider the location of the property and the renovation costs so that they are not disproportionate to the value of the property. The cost of a renovation varies between 800 and 1500€ per square meter (be careful, the use of high-end materials can significantly increase your budget). In addition, an apartment located on the top floor may require a lifting device and therefore increase costs.

Evaluate the price of charges, property and housing tax

During your apartment visit, it is also very important to find out about the various costs. Between notary fees, condominium fees and property and housing taxes, expenses can quickly become significant. Also remember to ask for the latest expense statements and the latest minutes of the general meeting. You will be able to check the upcoming work (facade renovation, roof repair) as well as the allocated budgets.