Before you buy
What to check before buying a property
A viewing shows you the rooms. It does not show you the market value, the legal status, or the costs you will face after signing. Here is what to check first, and how.
Is the asking price actually fair?
The asking price is a starting position, not a fact. Comparing it against official registers and current market data tells you whether it is reasonable before you make an offer, not after. See property valuation for how this is calculated.
What a viewing cannot tell you
A viewing shows you finish and condition, both real and worth seeing in person. It does not show you who legally owns the property, whether there are liens or third- party rights registered against it, what is actually permitted to be built or changed on the plot, or whether the area carries flood or contamination risk. That information sits in official registers, not in the rooms.
What Scan my Home checks
We research official registers and market data across 33 European countries and return a PDF report in 8 to 15 minutes: a conservatively derived market value, checks that run on fixed formulas, warning signs sorted by severity, the location assessed from official mapping, and the running costs you will actually face. A standard report costs €29.99. The full assessment, which also reads your own documents, costs €39.99.
Do this before you view, not after you offer
The point of checking early is timing. Ten properties looked promising online; only one is worth the drive and the afternoon. Checking each one first costs less than a single wasted viewing, and if you do make an offer, you make it knowing what you are actually buying.
Status, honestly
The service is in a test phase and payment is not switched on yet.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before buying a property?
At minimum: the market value against the asking price, the legal and ownership status in the land registry, any liens or encumbrances, planning and zoning restrictions, environmental and flood risk, and the running costs you will actually face. A viewing alone tells you almost none of this.
Can I check a property before the viewing?
Yes. Submit the listing link or an address and Scan my Home returns a PDF report in 8 to 15 minutes, before you book anything.
What questions should I ask the estate agent?
Why the current owner is selling, how long the property has been listed, whether the asking price has already been reduced, what is included in the sale, and whether there are any known disputes with neighbours or the building. An agent represents the seller, not you, so verify what you can independently first.
A real sample report is public, every figure and every source in it. See also what a formal valuation costs if you need one, and pricing.