The Scope and Purpose of a Home Inspection

Purchasing property involves risk

Buying a home—whether for yourself, your family, or as an investment—is a major decision. It’s not just about money; it’s about where and how you’ll live. My role is to support you in this process by offering a clear, honest, and detailed look at the condition of the property on the day of the inspection.

This home inspection is a limited, visual review of the building. It’s designed to help you better understand what you’re buying, not to give you a guarantee or make the decision for you. Old homes, new builds, quirky spaces, and fixer-uppers all come with their own stories and surprises—and that’s okay. My job is to help you see the parts that are visible and raise awareness about what may be hidden, uncertain, or outside the inspection’s scope.

I believe that good decisions come from good information. You won’t hear “don’t worry” from me—I’ll give you what I see, what I know, and what I don’t. That includes moments where I simply don’t have full access or where something needs a specialist’s opinion. Whenever possible, I encourage you to attend the inspection. Being there gives you a richer, real-time understanding of the property that’s hard to capture fully in a written report.

Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, in Lisbon or Leiria, the goal is the same: make informed, confident decisions about where you’ll live, grow, or invest.

This report is prepared in accordance with the terms of your inspection agreement with SEGUNDOS AFAMADOS - LDA and reflects the conditions observed on the date of inspection.

A home inspection is not an insurance policy

A home inspection is not a warranty or insurance policy. It won’t protect you from future problems or guarantee that nothing will go wrong with the house. Think of it instead as a snapshot of the property’s condition on a specific day, taken by someone who knows what to look for.

A home inspection is visual and not destructive

The inspection is visual and non-invasive. That means I don’t move furniture, open walls, dismantle equipment, or disturb finishes. I inspect only what’s accessible and visible without causing damage. Some systems—like overflow drains or waterproofing—can’t be tested without risk to the structure and are therefore excluded from direct testing. Tools such as thermal cameras or moisture meters may be used to support these observations. These tools provide visual context only and are not calibrated instruments for diagnostic or certified measurements.

This is not an inspection for code compliance

In Portugal, like many countries, there is no single national standard for home inspections, and we don’t check for compliance with municipal building codes. Code compliance is something typically reviewed by licensed architects or municipal officials during the construction phase, not after the home is finished. Building codes also evolve frequently, and older homes are not required to meet the latest standards unless major renovations are done.

In short: this inspection won’t catch everything, and it’s not meant to. But it will give you grounded, expert feedback on what’s visible and noteworthy—and that can make a world of difference in your planning and decision-making.

This is just our opinion

Every house is a little different—each with its own quirks, history, and construction choices. There’s no single “correct” way to build or repair everything, and that’s part of what makes homes so unique.

This report reflects my professional opinion, based on 20+ years of experience restoring and evaluating properties. But it’s still just that—an informed opinion. Other inspectors or contractors might see things differently, and that’s okay. You’re always welcome to get second opinions, especially on complex systems or repairs.

What I offer is context and perspective. I don’t just note problems; I explain them. And when something’s uncertain, I’ll say so. That might mean recommending further evaluation by a specialist, or simply highlighting something that’s outside the scope of this inspection.

In the end, this report isn’t a checklist—it’s a conversation starter. It gives you the groundwork to make your next steps with clarity and confidence.

The scope of this inspection

This inspection includes a visual evaluation of the exterior, roof, structure, foundation, attic, interior spaces, plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. I also assess conditions related to indoor air quality and the potential for mold growth where relevant. In some cases, I use tools such as a moisture meter, thermal camera or other handheld testers to gather additional visual context. These tools assist in visual evaluation but are not used to deliver technical measurements, official diagnostics, or precise readings. Any findings based on these tools will be included in the report where applicable.

Only areas that are accessible and safe on the day of the inspection will be included. When more detailed analysis is necessary, I’ll note it and recommend appropriate follow-up.

For clients who request it, I offer floor plans as an additional service. These are for reference only and are not intended for permitting, renovation planning, or any official use.

Your expectations

The goal of this inspection is to help align your expectations with the home you’re planning to buy. No home is perfect—every property has a history, and part of my job is to give you a clear picture of what that looks like on the day of the inspection.

I aim to highlight what’s working, what might need attention, and what’s unknown. This isn’t about finding every flaw—it’s about helping you make an informed decision. If you’re expecting a checklist of every minor issue, this report won’t provide that. But if you’re looking for guidance grounded in experience and transparency, that’s exactly what this offers.

This process is about discovery. It’s about seeing the home with informed eyes so you can decide how it fits into your plans.

How to Read This Report

Getting the Information to You

This report is designed to be clear and approachable, even if you’re not familiar with construction terms.

The full report includes photos, captions, descriptions, and links to more information to help you understand what you’re seeing. Some words or phrases may be highlighted and underlined—clicking on these will take you to additional resources or definitions.

You’ll also notice the use of emojis throughout the report. These are visual markers meant to draw your attention to specific items—they are not used to indicate the severity of an issue. The true meaning of each observation is described in the associated text and clearly labeled with a severity modifier.

For the best experience, I recommend reading the report online. It’s interactive, easy to navigate, and allows you to dive deeper into any areas that matter most to you. You can also download it as a PDF, and if needed, I can provide a high-quality translation to Portuguese.

Chapters and Sections

This report is organized into chapters, each covering a major part of the home. Within each chapter, you’ll find sections that focus on specific systems or components—like the roof, plumbing, or electrical. This structure makes it easy to navigate and understand the findings.

You’ll see most sections begin with a brief description in standard text. If I’ve observed something notable—whether it’s a concern or just something worth explaining more—you’ll find a colored box with a narrative. These narratives are meant to help you understand not just what was seen, but what it might mean in context.

Observation Labels used for Apartment in Setúbal

Observations are numbered, colored, and labeled for clarity. The labels follow a standard set of observation modifiers, which define the nature and severity of each observation. If something is functioning as expected, the report may simply note “tested” or “inspected,” and no further comment will be needed.

• Safety Concern:
  An observed condition that may pose a risk of injury or harm if not addressed.
• Good Condition Noted:
  No issues were identified during inspection. The area or component is performing as expected.
• Repair or Replace:
  Items identified during the inspection that require repair or maintenance. While some may be costly—such as refinishing hardwood floors—they are categorized as repair items due to their primarily cosmetic nature.
• Recommended Improvement:
  Observations that are not necessarily defects, but which could be improved for safety, efficiency, or reliability reasons.
• Routine Maintenance:
  Such concerns need ongoing monitoring and you should anticipate hidden damage when/if repairs become warranted.
• Inspection Limitation:
  Conditions or circumstances that restricted full evaluation during the inspection. These may include inaccessible areas, obstructed components, or systems not in operation at the time. Observations are based only on what was visible and safely accessible.
• Description & Property Information:
  
  Detailed description of various aspects of the property noted during the inspection.