New-build home inspection

A new-build inspection is a survey of the home carried out by an architect before you sign for the keys, or in the first months afterwards. We check the house point by point, record every defect with a photo and its location, and give you a report the developer has to act on.

What we check

• Structure and façades: cracks, walls out of plumb, joints, finishes and junctions with doors and windows.
• Roofs, terraces and pool: falls, waterproofing, drains, pool shell, coping and equipment.
• Damp: stains, condensation, leaks and the sealing of windows, shower trays and baths, checked with a moisture meter.
• Doors and windows: opening and closing, adjustment, shutters, glazing and sills.
• Floors, walls and ceilings: flatness, broken or hollow tiles, paintwork, skirting and joints.
• Services: electrics with a tester (consumer unit, RCDs, sockets and light points), plumbing, drainage, air conditioning and ventilation.
• Insulation, with a thermal camera: areas without insulation, thermal bridges, air leaks at windows and hidden damp.
• The specification: that the materials and equipment installed are the ones you were sold.

How we do it

1. First call to learn about the home, the handover date and the documents you have (contract, specification, plans).
2. On-site inspection, with dated photos, measurements, thermal camera, moisture meter and electrical tester, and tests of everything that can be tested.
3. Report signed by an architect, organised by room, with every defect graded by severity and by warranty period.
4. Follow-up: if you wish, we come back to check that the developer has repaired everything in the report.

Your warranties

Spain's Building Act (LOE) sets three periods from the handover of the works: 1 year for finishing defects, 3 years for those affecting habitability (damp, insulation, services) and 10 years for structural ones. Once damage appears, you have 2 years to claim. Having defects documented from the start makes claiming much easier.

We explain it with photos of real cases in the article New-build home inspection: what we check before you get the keys.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time?

Ideally before you sign the handover certificate, so the developer repairs things before you move in. If you already have the keys it is still worth it: during the first year all finishing defects are under warranty.

What if there are a lot of defects?

The report lets you make a written claim to the developer. If they do not respond, it can be turned into an expert report and we work with your lawyer.

How much does it cost?

For a normal-sized home, €350 + VAT, including the visit and the signed report. If the house is larger or has a pool and garden, tell us about it and we will give you a fixed price before we go.