Our Services
We serve owners of detached and terraced houses, housing companies, as well as owners of commercial and office properties throughout Finland.
Protecting the value and safety of your property
A condition inspection provides independent and reliable information on the technical condition of a building. It identifies repair needs, potential defects, safety and health risks, and offers clear recommendations for further actions. This helps all parties involved in a property transaction make informed decisions with confidence.
In Finland, condition inspections are carried out in accordance with the Common Practice for Condition Inspections in Residential Property Transactions, which ensures a consistent and professional approach.
Selling your home? Here’s what a condition inspection provides
A condition inspection offers independent and reliable information for all parties involved in a property transaction. It covers the technical condition of the building, identified repair needs, potential defects, safety and health risks, and provides clear recommendations for further actions.
When selling a property, you will need:
- Condition Inspection
- Energy Performance Certificate
- Floor Area Verification
Purpose and scope of a condition inspection
The purpose of a condition inspection is to provide impartial information to the parties involved in a property transaction regarding the inspected property’s:
- Technical condition of the building
- Repair needs
- Risk of damage
- Usability and safety risks
- Health risks
- Recommended actions
A condition inspection is a technical assessment of the property’s condition, repair needs, and structural risk factors at the time of inspection. It is based on the inspector’s professional expertise, on-site observations, and information obtained from the property user through interviews and available documentation.
When is a condition inspection recommended?
- When buying or selling a property
- To evaluate the condition of your own home – for homeowners who want a clear understanding of the building’s current condition and future maintenance needs
- When planning renovations or major repairs
A Property Condition Survey Results in a PTS
A property condition survey is an essential tool for effective property management. It assesses the functional condition of a building’s structural components and technical systems, as well as their maintenance and repair needs.
The survey includes an on-site property inspection, a summary of the overall condition of the property, and a long-term maintenance plan in which the future repair needs of the property are assessed together with cost estimates for the next ten years (PTS – Long-Term Maintenance Plan).
The property inspection covers an evaluation of structural components, various premises, and building services systems, including the identification of repair and maintenance requirements. The survey also examines the energy efficiency of the property and pays particular attention to building safety and health aspects.
A property condition survey is always carried out by a team of specialists. This team typically includes a structural engineering expert, an HVAC (building services) expert, and an electrical systems expert.
It is recommended that a property condition survey be conducted for the first time within ten years of the completion of the building and thereafter approximately every five years.
Technical Survey
A technical survey is a more comprehensive examination of the condition of a property or a part of it than a condition assessment or condition inspection. The purpose of the survey is to determine the condition of structures, identify hidden defects, and reveal other factors affecting repair planning that cannot be identified through visual inspection alone.
A technical survey is an extensive assessment
Based on a condition assessment or condition inspection, additional investigations may be required if sufficient information on the condition of a building or a part of it cannot be obtained through inspection alone. A technical survey therefore often focuses on specific structures or a limited part of the building. It may be carried out, for example, on plumbing systems, electrical systems, ventilation systems, indoor air quality, or a specific structure, like the roof structure.
A technical survey is typically conducted when the preparation of actual repair plans begins. It helps identify the root causes of potential defects, enabling the selection of appropriate repair methods, assessment of urgency, and estimation of repair costs. A technical survey may include more detailed measurements and, where necessary, laboratory analyses.
Our technical survey services
- Indoor Air Quality Investigation
- Hazardous Materials Investigation
- Structural Investigation of Building Structures
- Roof and Attic Condition Investigation
- External Wall Condition Investigation
- Foundation Condition Investigation
- Drainage System Condition Investigation
- Water Supply and Drainage Systems Investigation
- Electrical Systems Condition Investigation
- Ventilation System Condition Investigation
Energy Performance Certificate
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is based on calculated values. The energy classification of a building is determined by the calculated energy efficiency indicator, known as the E-value. The E-value represents the annual delivered energy consumption of a building, weighted by energy carrier coefficients and based on standardized use, per square metre of heated net floor area.
For newer detached houses, energy classes C and D are common, whereas older buildings may fall into classes E–G. A new building that complies with regulations for nearly zero-energy buildings is generally classified in energy class B.
The owner of a building can influence the energy classification, for example by improving thermal insulation, installing heat recovery in the ventilation system, or using renewable energy sources.
Moisture Measurement
With a moisture measurement, we assess the moisture condition of wet areas (bathrooms and other wet rooms) within the apartment, as well as any need for repairs or further investigations.
Excess moisture in structures almost invariably leads to moisture and microbial damage, and in most cases also causes indoor air quality issues.
As part of the moisture measurement, we also evaluate the functionality and adequacy of the ventilation system.
Apartment Floor Area Measurement
Especially in older buildings and historically valuable properties, the actual floor area may have changed over the years due to renovations, combining two apartments into one, or removing built-in furniture or fixed installations.
Once the apartment’s actual floor area has been verified, the sellable area may be greater or smaller than what is defined in the housing company’s articles of association. Measuring the apartment floor area provides valuable, financially significant information in connection with real estate transactions.
Indoor Air Quality Investigation
Indoor air quality is affected by various factors such as moisture damage, insufficient ventilation, dust and gases released from building materials, and other building-related issues.
It is advisable to investigate indoor air quality if the air feels stuffy, there is an unpleasant smell indoors, surface materials blister, peel, discolor, or detach, or if the apartment feels drafty or continuously too hot or too cold.
In addition to sensory inspection, there are several methods available to assess indoor air quality. These include microbial analyses, chemical investigations, moisture measurements, pressure measurements, structural openings and sampling, as well as assessments of ventilation performance. We always select the most suitable method based on the situation.
Contact Us!
Customer Service
info@talokatsastus.fi
Tel. +358 10 337 3488
Corporate Sales
info@talokatsastus.fi
Tel. +358 400 771 237