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Bulgaria: Inspections and Surveys

Overview

When you’ve found a property you like, you should not only make a close inspection of its condition, even if it’s a fairly new building, but also ensure that ‘what you see is what you get’. In many rural areas, boundaries aren’t always clearly drawn and nearby land may or may not be part of your property, despite what an estate agent may tell you!

There are various ways you can carry out an inspection; which one you choose will depend largely on whether a property is a ruin in need of complete restoration, partly or totally renovated, or a modern home.

There are a number of checks you can carry out yourself, including the following (although you will probably need to take a translator with you if you don’t speak Bulgarian):

 Visit the local town hall and check the development plan of the land on which the property stands.

 While you’re at the town hall, ask for details of any areas that are liable to flooding. In an area that’s liable to flooding, storms and subsidence, it’s wise to check an old property after heavy rainfall, when any leaks should come to light.

 If you buy a property near a river, you should ensure that it has been designed with floods in mind, e.g. with electrical installations above flood level and solid tiled floors.

 Ask the vendor or agent for a copy of the title deeds, which should contain a copy of the relevant section of the local land registry plan. This is a check that will be made by the notary handling the sale, but it’s worth anticipating any doubts or disputes by checking at this stage.

 Check the condition of any boundary walls, fences or hedges and find out who they belong to and therefore who is responsible for their upkeep.

 If you’re planning to make extensions or alterations (e.g. putting in a swimming pool) that may require planning permission, find out whether such permission is likely to be granted.

 When it comes to examining the building itself, check the outside first, where there may be signs of damage and decay, such as bulging or cracked walls, damp, missing roof tiles and rusty or insecure gutters and drainpipes, dry or wet rot in beams and other woodwork, and doors and windows that no longer hinge, lock or fit properly. Plants growing up or against walls can cause damp and damage, and the roots of trees and shrubs close to a building can undermine foundations (look for telltale cracks). Use binoculars to inspect the roof and a torch to investigate the loft, noting any cracks or damp patches using a camera and notepad. If you see a damp patch on the outside, check whether it runs right through the wall when you go inside.

 In the case of a property that has been restored, if work has been carried out by registered builders, ask to see the bills. If the current (or a previous) owner did the work themselves, it’s essential to consult an expert to ascertain whether it has been done properly; otherwise, you may end up having to redo everything.

 If the property has a swimming pool, check that planning permission was granted for its construction. Check also the type of pool structure and its condition and that the filtration and cleaning systems work as they should. If you know little or nothing about swimming pools, it’s worthwhile getting an expert to make the checks for you. The small cost of an inspection should be set against the potentially astronomical cost of repairing an unsound pool and, if repairs are required, these may be paid for by the vendor or covered by a reduction in the price of the property.

More generally, consider the location of the pool, the local climate and your inclinations, and ask yourself (honestly) how often you’re likely to use it and whether its maintenance will be more trouble and expense than it’s worth.

 Test the electrical system, plumbing, mains water, hot water boiler and central heating systems as applicable. Don’t take someone’s word that these work, but check for yourself and, at the same time, find out how these systems work.

 If the property doesn’t have electricity or mains water, check the nearest connection point and 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 a septic tank, you should have them tested.

 Check also whether the property can be connected to main drainage (if it isn’t already).

 Check the quality of the water in the area of the property; for example, is it soft or hard?

 Locate the stop cock for the mains water supply, if there is one, and test the water pressure (turn on the highest tap). Ask where the meter is and check it.

 If a building has a ventilation space beneath the ground floor, check that this hasn’t become blocked by plants or been filled with debris; if it has, this could have caused ground-level wooden floors to rot and damp to rise up walls.

 Check the local crime rate by asking neighbours and local police to find out whether any existing security measures, such as shutters and locks, are likely to be adequate or whether you will need to install additional systems, such as an alarm or window bars, which will affect not only your budget but also the appearance of your property. Take into account that neighbours may be reluctant to tell you if burglary is prevalent, and the local police may have different standards of comparison from your own!

It’s strongly recommended that, if possible, you visit your prospective home at least once in winter to get an idea of what the climate is like at that time of year and whether you will want to spend any length of time there. Such a visit may also reveal problems that weren’t apparent at another time, such pipes freezing or local shops being closed until spring. Winter visits also help you to find accommodation for when a property is being built or renovated, if a house is uninhabitable.

Although you can make such obvious checks yourself, the cost of a professional inspection (see below) is a small price to pay for the peace of mind it affords.

© Survival Books Limited 2006

“Buying a Home in Bulgaria” 1st Edition, Dougal Robertson.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Bulgaria” 1st Edition, Dougal Robertson.

For extensive information about buying a property in Bulgaria, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net

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