Buying a flat: what to check
A buyer's organisational checklist: the flat itself, the building and area, document questions and money. What to look at and what to ask a professional.

[ ] Work out the full budget, not just the price
    Taxes and fees, professional services, the move, minimum works, furniture. The total is usually well above the asking price.
[ ] Write down your non-negotiables before viewings
    Floor, transport, schools, parking, aspect, noise. A written list protects you from emotion at a beautiful viewing.
[ ] Visit a second time at a different hour
    In the evening and on a weekday. Parking, noise, light and neighbours look different from a Saturday afternoon.
[ ] Check the water: pressure, drainage, leak marks
    Open every tap at once, flush, look under the sink, in bathroom corners and at the ceiling.
[ ] Inspect the consumer unit, sockets and switches
    The state of the breakers, the number of sockets, signs of overheating. Old wiring is a future renovation, not a detail.
[ ] Check windows, reveals and ventilation
    Draughts, condensation, mould in corners, extraction. Hold a sheet of paper to the vent — the draw is immediately visible.
[ ] Ask about heating and how it works in winter
    Are all radiators present, can they be adjusted, how warm is it in a cold snap. Ask neighbours, not only the seller.
[ ] Listen to the flat in silence
    Ask for a minute of quiet. Neighbours, the lift, the road and the pipes are what no renovation fixes.
[ ] Compare the layout with the documents
    An unapproved alteration becomes your problem after the purchase: you will have to legalise or reverse it.
[ ] Inspect the entrance, lift, basement and roof
    The state of the building says more than the flat's renovation. Top and ground floors deserve extra attention.
[ ] Talk to the neighbours
    Five minutes on the landing gives you what no listing contains: the building, the management and the life of the block.
[ ] Walk the area in the evening
    Transport, shops, parking, lighting, who gathers in the yard. A map shows distances, not atmosphere.
[ ] Find out about planned construction and major works
    Construction outside the window and upcoming major works change both comfort and value. This is usually public information — ask where to look.
[ ] Put the document questions to a professional
    Owner and basis of title, encumbrances, who is registered, debts, consents. The professional does the checks; the questions are yours.
[ ] Check for outstanding utility debts
    Ask for statements and recent bills. You will also learn the real cost rather than \u201croughly average\u201d.
[ ] Never hand over money without a written document
    A deposit, an advance and a prepayment differ in consequences. The document must state what happens if either side withdraws.
[ ] Agree the handover and meter readings
    What furniture and appliances stay, in what condition, when the keys change hands and the meter readings at that moment.
[ ] Plan the move and the first costs after the deal
    The move, new locks, minimum works, internet. People remember these once the budget is already spent.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/buy-apartment-check