30-Minute Apartment Inspection in Poland: Complete Checklist

Phone with a torch and a charger (for testing sockets), a tape measure of at least 5 m. A notepad and pen.

Best during the day, in natural light. In the evening, lamps conceal stains and moisture. If only evening viewings are offered — ask for a second daytime viewing. A refusal is suspicious.

Check the corners near the ceiling and at the floor. Yellowish or brownish stains are signs of flooding or mould. A freshly painted corner in an otherwise old renovation may be masking a persistent problem.

Musty, damp, chemical — reason to pause. Fresh paint also masks smells: ask for the apartment to be aired and return after 15 minutes. If the smell returns, something is wrong with the ventilation or plumbing.

Place something round on the floor (a pen). If it rolls by itself — significant tilt. That's either poor renovation or a problem with the floor slab.

Close and open each window, check the seal. Condensation between panes — the unit has lost its seal, expensive to replace. In winter such a window means cold and high heating bills.

Open both cold and hot water simultaneously in the kitchen and bathroom. If the pressure drops sharply, there is a pipe problem. Flush the toilet and simultaneously look at the sink: the water should drain quickly without gurgling.

Plug a charger into 3–5 sockets in different rooms. If the indicator flickers or the charger heats up — old wiring. Look inside the distribution board: modern circuit breakers are good; old fuses or twisted cables are serious.