Buying a second home in the Algarve usually happens in a few short trips. That makes two moments especially important: the viewing, when you decide whether the house is right, and the week after completion, when practical responsibility becomes yours before you fly home.

This checklist covers both. It is a practical owner's list, not a building survey or legal advice; your lawyer and, where needed, a qualified surveyor or engineer remain essential.

At the viewing: what to look at yourself

A viewing is short and usually well presented. Look past the furniture and the sea view at the things that are expensive to put right later.

  • Damp and mould. Check ceilings, the tops of walls, inside fitted wardrobes and behind doors. Fresh paint in one corner, a strong air freshener or a running dehumidifier deserve a question. Coastal homes that stand empty in winter are prone to condensation — see humidity and mould in Algarve homes.
  • Water. Run taps and showers, flush toilets, and look under sinks for staining or swollen cabinet bases. Ask where the stopcock and water heater are, and how old the heater is.
  • Electrics. Look at the consumer board. Ask when it was last updated and whether the air conditioning has been serviced.
  • Windows, shutters and doors. Open and close them. Salt air is hard on shutters, hinges and outdoor metalwork, and replacement is rarely cheap.
  • Roof and terraces. From the ground and from any terrace, look for cracked tiles, ponding water and stained render below balconies.
  • Pool and garden. Ask to see the pump room. Note the age of the equipment, whether the irrigation works, and who currently maintains both.
  • Access and neighbours. Gates, shared driveways, parking and condominium rules all affect how easily the house can be looked after when you are not there.

Take dated photographs and notes. They are useful for your lawyer's questions now and as a reference after completion.

Documents to ask your lawyer about

Your lawyer will run the legal checks, but it helps to know what to ask for. Typical documents include the land registry certificate (certidão permanente), the tax registration (caderneta predial), the habitation licence (licença de utilização), the energy certificate, and — for apartments and managed developments — the condominium's statement of any outstanding charges and recent meeting minutes. Ask whether any extensions, pools or annexes appear on the approved plans.

After completion: before you return abroad

Completion is a legal milestone, but it is also the point at which practical responsibility for the property becomes yours. Before returning abroad, create a usable record of the home.

Inventory every means of access

Count front-door, secondary-door, mailbox and garage keys, gate controls and alarm fobs. Test them and record any missing or unreliable item. Consider changing locks where key history is uncertain.

Photograph condition

Create clear photographs of rooms, walls, ceilings, equipment and external areas. Note visible defects separately so later changes can be identified. This is a practical baseline, not a substitute for a professional building survey.

Record systems and readings

Photograph utility meters and identify water controls, the consumer board, hot-water equipment, air-conditioning, internet equipment, pool systems and irrigation controls. Gather manuals and service records where available.

Build the contact file

Keep condominium, alarm, insurance, pool, garden and trusted technical contacts together. Confirm who may access the property and how work will be authorised whilst you are abroad.

Put care in place before leaving

Choose an inspection schedule, document how systems should be left and arrange the first visit. Guardemar’s property handover service records keys, meters and condition in one visit, and can lead directly into ongoing second-home management. If you are buying through an agent or lawyer, they can introduce the property to us before completion.