When you’ve found a property that you like, whether it’s an old or a ‘new’ building, you should make a close inspection of its condition.

Obviously this will depend on whether it’s an old house in need of complete restoration, a property that has been partly or totally modernised, or a modern home. One of the problems with a property that has been restored is that you don’t know how well the job has been done, particularly if the owner did it himself. If work has been carried out by local builders, you should ask to see the bills.

Some simple checks you can do yourself include testing the electrical system, plumbing, mains water, hot water boiler and central heating. Don’t take someone’s word that these are functional, but check them for yourself. If a property doesn’t have electricity or mains water, check the nearest connection point and the cost of extending the service to the property, as it can be very expensive in remote rural areas. If a property has a well or septic tank, you should have them tested.

An old property may show visible signs of damage and decay, such as bulging or cracked walls, rising damp, missing roof slates (you can check with binoculars) and rotten woodwork. Common problems include rusting water pipes and leaky plumbing, inadequate sewage disposal, poor wiring, humidity and rising damp, uneven flooring or no concrete base, collapsing facades, subsidence, and cracked internal and external walls. Some of these problems are even evident in developments less than five years old. Some areas are liable to flooding, storms and subsidence, and it’s advisable to check an old property after heavy rainfall, when any leaks should come to light. If you find or suspect problems, you should have a property checked by a builder or have a full structural survey carried out by a surveyor. You may also wish to have a property checked for termites and other infestations.

A Cypriot buyer wouldn’t make an offer on an old property before at least having it checked by a builder, who will also be able to tell you whether the price is too high, given any work that needs to be done. It’s unusual to have a full survey on a property in Cyprus, particularly a property built in the last 10 or 20 years. A structural survey is usually necessary only if the building is old or suspected of being unsound. However, if you’re buying a detached property or a village house, especially one built on the side of a hill, it’s always advisable to have a survey carried out. Generally, if you would have a survey done on a similar property in your home country, you should have one done in Cyprus.

You could ask the vendor to have a survey done at his expense, which, provided it gives the property a clean bill of health, will help him sell it even if you decide not to buy. However, this isn’t usual and a vendor may refuse or insist that you carry out a survey at your expense. People don’t have surveys as a matter of course in Cyprus and you may find you encounter a negative attitude if you insist that it’s the vendor’s responsibility. You can make a satisfactory survey a condition of a contract. If a vendor refuses to allow you to do a survey before signing a contract, take legal advice, but be wary, it may be that you should look elsewhere. All Cypriot lenders require a survey before approving a loan, but this is essentially simply a valuation to ensure that a property is worth the purchase price.

Your lawyer can recommend a registered local surveyor, who should be a member of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), based in Nicosia (Tel. 22-877 644). Surveying is a regulated profession in Cyprus and many surveyors speak excellent English. A local surveyor will have extensive knowledge of local properties and building methods.

Always discuss with the surveyor exactly what will be included, and most importantly, what will be excluded (you may need to pay extra to include certain checks and tests). A survey can be limited to a few items or even a single system only, such as the wiring or plumbing in an old house. You should receive a written report on the condition of a property, including anything that could become a problem in the future. A full structural survey should include the condition of all buildings (particularly the foundations, roofs, walls and woodwork), plumbing, electricity and heating systems, and anything else you want inspected such as a swimming pool and its equipment, e.g. filter system or heating.