Property Viewing Checklist: What to Look for When Buying in Portugal

Property photos can tell you plenty about the style of a home, but much less about what it is actually like to live in.

A viewing is your chance to check the things that do not always make it into a listing: street noise, natural light, water pressure, storage, the condition of the building and whether that attractive terrace actually gets much sun.

For buyers travelling to Portugal and seeing several properties in a few days, using the same checklist for each one also makes them easier to compare afterwards.

Take a look around before entering the property.

How busy is the street? Is parking straightforward? Are there cafés, bars or businesses immediately below or beside the building? Check the nearest shops and public transport rather than relying entirely on the distances shown on a map.

With an apartment, the building matters too. Look at the entrance, stairwell, lift and other communal areas. Their condition can give you an idea of how well the building is being maintained.

For a house or villa, look at the exterior walls, driveway, garden, drainage and any visible boundaries or retaining walls.

Pay attention to which way the main rooms face and how much natural light they receive. A property viewed in the morning may feel quite different later in the day, particularly if surrounding buildings block the sun.

Then look beyond the advertised floor area.

Are the bedrooms actually large enough for the furniture you would use? Is there proper storage? How much space disappears into corridors, awkward corners or unusually shaped rooms? If there is a balcony or terrace, is it large enough to use comfortably?

Portuguese listings also use terminology that may be unfamiliar to international buyers. Our guide to Portuguese property classifications explains the most common descriptions and property types.

Portugal has everything from newly completed developments to homes in buildings that are well over a century old, so condition can vary considerably.

During the viewing, look for damp or mould, musty smells, peeling or bubbling paint, staining around windows and ceilings, and cracks that look more substantial than normal cosmetic wear.

Pay attention to isolated areas that have recently been repainted or repaired and ask what work was carried out.

Older windows, poor insulation and damp are among the issues commonly encountered with the condition of housing in Portugal.

You are not trying to carry out your own structural inspection. The aim is to spot anything that deserves a closer look before you commit to the purchase.

Do not be afraid to open things and switch things on.

Open several windows and shutters. Check whether they move properly and listen to the difference in street noise when the windows are closed.

Turn on the taps and check the water pressure. Test the hot water if possible, flush the toilets and look below sinks for obvious signs of leaks.

Ask how the property is heated and cooled and, where practical, test the air conditioning or heating. Look at the electrical panel and ask about the age of the electrical and plumbing systems, particularly in an older property.

If appliances, furniture or other fittings appear in the property, establish what is actually included in the sale.

For an apartment, find out how much the condominium fee is and what it covers. Ask whether major works are planned for the building and whether any substantial repairs have recently been completed.

Parking and storage should also be clarified. A parking space shown during the viewing is not necessarily included with the property unless this is confirmed.

For villas, think about the cost and work involved in maintaining pools, gardens, irrigation systems and larger outdoor areas.

It can also be useful to ask what the current owners typically spend on utilities. The figure will depend on how they use the property, but it can still give you some idea of the running costs.

Some of the most useful questions have little to do with the appearance of the property.

Ask why it is being sold and how long it has been on the market. Find out whether it is currently occupied and when it could become available.

For older or renovated homes, ask when major work was completed and what was changed. Windows, plumbing, electrics, roofing and heating or cooling systems are all worth asking about.

You should also establish exactly what comes with the property, particularly where furniture, appliances, storage or parking form part of its appeal.

Important information will still need to be checked later as part of the normal process of buying property in Portugal. The viewing helps you decide what needs further investigation before you go any further.

Give yourself ten minutes to see the immediate neighbourhood on foot.

Find the nearest supermarket or café, look at the parking situation and listen to the level of traffic and other noise. In Lisbon and Porto, a short distance on a map can also involve a fairly steep hill, something that may matter much more in everyday life than it does during a property viewing.

The streets immediately behind or beside a property can feel quite different from the one used in the listing photographs.

Use this list during the viewing, or download the printable version to save to your phone or print before your property search.

Once you have narrowed down what works for you, you can browse properties for sale in Portugal or read our full buying guide for the steps between choosing a property and completing the purchase.