Check the listing before you finance it
A property listing rarely shows the full picture — missing details, implausible numbers or vague wording often only surface once the bank starts checking. This checklist shows 7 points and typical red flags so you can spot them yourself, first. Free by email, DE/EN.
What's in the checklist
- 7 check points. From living area to year built to running costs — what's often missing or vague in listings.
- Red flags. Typical phrasing and omissions that point to hidden problems.
- Financing-relevant. What the bank will check anyway — better to clarify it yourself first.
- DE/EN. Also for buyers who want to check listings in English.
What listings often leave out — and why it matters
Living area without a calculation basis
"Approx. 120 m²" without a living-area calculation is an estimate, not a reliable figure — the bank will ask for the exact calculation later anyway.
Renovation status stated vaguely
"Well maintained" or "solid" says nothing about heating, roof or plumbing — exactly the items that can turn out expensive.
Running costs incomplete
Service charges, reserve fund and ongoing costs are often missing from listings entirely — without them, serious financing planning isn't possible.
No viewing possible
If a viewing gets delayed or refused without a plausible reason, that's a clear warning sign — regardless of how good the listing otherwise looks.
Questions about the checklist
Does the checklist replace a surveyor?
Which property types does the checklist fit?
What does your advice cost?
Note. This checklist is guidance only and does not replace legal, construction or valuation advice. Immobiliar-Verbraucherdarlehen are brokered under the licence §34i GewO (Olga Nikushkina).