The technical viewing: what the photographs cannot tell you

Observe before interpreting

Record orientation, odour, staining, condensation, cracking, roof lines, drainage, plant growth near walls, mechanical noise and the age of visible systems. Photographs help a specialist locate a concern; they do not diagnose it.

• Visit after rain when possible
• Open cupboards on external walls
• Check water pressure and drainage
• Ask how the home is heated, cooled and ventilated
• Note salt and wind exposure near the coast

Reconcile the physical and legal property

The building being used should correspond with the documents and authorised use reviewed by the buyer’s lawyer and technical advisers. Extensions, pools, annexes and converted areas deserve explicit confirmation rather than assumption.

Price the operating reality

Estimate recurring energy, water, pool, garden, security, condominium and maintenance obligations. For rural property, include access, water systems, vegetation management, connectivity and the distance to qualified trades.

Assign every concern to the right professional

A lawyer reviews legal matters; an architect, engineer, surveyor, energy professional or insurer addresses different technical questions. The seller, listing agent and relocation coordinator should not replace independent conclusions.

• Download the Pegasus Property Risk Brief
• Photograph and number each concern
• Request evidence rather than reassurance
• Define walk-away conditions before negotiation