Home inspections in Porto, before you sign.
An independent licensed engineer inspects the property, and you get a photo report in English and Portuguese within 48 hours. Message us for a quote.
Prefer to talk? Call or WhatsApp +351 934 934 630
- Licensed civil engineers (Ordem dos Engenheiros)
- No link to sellers, agents or developers
- Report in English and Portuguese
Illustrative example
- UrgentDamp staining at the granite plinth
- RecommendedWindow frames: repaint and reseal
- MonitorHairline crack, tiled facade
Every finding in an OHI report is photographed, ranked by priority and explained in plain language.
- Porto
- Vila Nova de Gaia
- Matosinhos
- Maia
- Gondomar
- Valongo
- Espinho
- Vila do Conde
- Póvoa de Varzim
- Braga
- Guimarães
- Viana do Castelo
- Aveiro
- Santa Maria da Feira
- Penafiel
Since DL 10/2024, checking the property is your job, not the notary’s.
Until 2024 the habitation licence was normally checked as part of the property transfer. With the Simplex Urbanístico (DL 10/2024) that requirement was removed from the deed. Buyers are now expected to do their own due diligence before they complete.
An independent inspection shows hidden defects, unlicensed alterations and compliance problems before you commit, while you can still negotiate.
Law in effect: DL 10/2024
Which inspection do you need?
Choose the situation that sounds like yours. Every service ends with the same thing: a clear, photographed report you can use.
- I’m about to sign the promissory contractPre-purchase inspection
- I’m taking the keys to a new-build or off-plan flatNew-build snagging
- I can smell damp, or the walls were freshly paintedMoisture and mould
- I want the roof checked without climbing on itDrone roof inspection
- I’m selling and want no surprises from the buyer’s surveyPre-sale inspection
- I’m renting, or letting, and want the condition on recordRental inspection
- There is a dispute, a claim or a warranty to enforceReport for legal action
- I’m worried about lead, asbestos or mouldHazardous materials testing
Drone inspections and surveys
Roofs, commercial buildings, building sites, land and facades, seen from above: safely, completely and with dated images you can use.
- Roof inspectionsHomes, villas and apartment blocks, without anyone climbing
- Commercial roofsWarehouses, factories, shops and hotels: leaks, membranes, drains
- Construction progressSites, structures and as-built records for owners and lenders
- Land and property boundariesPlots, quintas and visible limits, for buyers and lawyers
- FacadesBalconies, azulejo, parapets and cornices at height
What we keep finding in Porto’s older homes
Granite, timber and Atlantic weather. Most of these are fixable. All of them are cheaper to deal with before you own the building.
Urgent
Damp at the base of walls
The most common problem in older Porto buildings, and often painted over before a viewing.
Monitor
Measured, not guessed
A moisture meter puts a number against what you can see. This photograph is from a real OHI report.
Immediate
Original electrics
Ceramic fuses, no earthing and one circuit for the whole flat are still common.
Urgent
Flat terraces and roofs
Waterproofing ages. Water finds its way in and shows up on the ceiling below.
Scenery photographs are illustrative. The moisture-meter photograph is from a real OHI report.Read the full buyer guides
From enquiry to report in 48 hours
Send us the listing
A link or the address, plus your phone number. Email, WhatsApp or the form, whichever is easier.
We send your quote
You get a clear quote and a date. We reply within one business day.
Inspection day
A licensed civil engineer inspects the property, photographs every finding and measures what can be measured.
Report in 48 hours
Your report arrives in English and Portuguese, findings ranked by priority. You decide what to do before the CPCV.
See the report before you book
Every OHI report follows the same layout: an overview, one section per part of the building, photographs with captions, and a priority list at the end. No jargon, no hedging.
Look inside a sample reportWhat clients say
I hired OHI after my new apartment was handed over and I’m so glad I did. The report flagged poor waterproofing in the bathroom, a faulty electrical connection, and finishing work that simply wasn’t up to standard. I went back to the developer with the report, and after 6 long weeks, everything was fixed.
I was about to sign a lease on a flat in Porto and had a bad feeling about it but couldn’t put my finger on why. OHI’s inspection gave me (a much needed) peace of mind… Everything was checked and clearly explained. I signed the contract knowing exactly what I was getting into.
Questions buyers ask us
How much does a home inspection cost in Porto?
Every property is different, so we quote each one. Message us the listing or the address on WhatsApp, by email or with the form, and you get a quote within one business day.
How soon do I get the report?
Within 48 hours of the inspection, in English and Portuguese, with photographs and a priority list.
Who carries out the inspection?
Licensed civil engineers (members of the Ordem dos Engenheiros). We work for you only: we do not sell, list or repair properties.
When should I book?
After you have agreed a price in principle and before you sign the CPCV (Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda). That is when the findings give you the most negotiating power.
Do you inspect new-build and off-plan properties?
Yes. A snagging inspection finds defects before you accept the keys, while the developer is still obliged to fix them.
Where do you work?
Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and the North of Portugal. Anywhere else in the country is possible on quotation. See areas we cover.
Don’t sign the deed without the report in hand.
Send us the listing or the address. We’ll confirm the price and the date within one business day.