ARQUS Check carries out independent pre-purchase inspections of villas, detached houses and maisonettes in Halkidiki, Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia. In a site visit of usually 2–4 hours we inspect the plot, pool, structure, roof (by drone), insulation (with a thermal camera) and every installation in the house, without damaging anything. Within 48–72 hours you receive a detailed PDF report in English, with photos, a score for each system and repair-cost estimates, co-signed by a civil engineer who is a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).
Why buyers in Greece should get an independent inspection
If you are used to buying in the UK, Germany or elsewhere in Europe, the Greek process can come as a surprise. Your lawyer checks the title and the notary handles the deed. An engineer's certificate on the building's legal status forms part of the transfer paperwork. Nobody in that chain is responsible for telling you whether the roof leaks, the walls are damp or the pool is losing water.
That is the job of an independent inspection. We are not estate agents, we do not work for the seller and we take no commissions. The report describes the house as it is, whatever that means for the sale.
Typical risks in Halkidiki holiday homes
Villas on the Halkidiki coast share some typical risks:
- Seasonal use. Houses closed for months without ventilation or heating, where damp and mould develop slowly.
- Sea air. Salt corrodes metal railings, outdoor air-conditioning units, pergolas and the reinforcement in exposed concrete.
- Slopes and water. Hillside plots or plots near seasonal streams, where stormwater drainage and flood risk matter.
- Stone and older houses. Rising damp, thermal bridges and later extensions.
What we inspect
Plot and surroundings
- Fencing and boundaries (walls, railings, retaining walls).
- Pedestrian and vehicle gates, hardware and automation.
- Access to the house: paths, external stairs, gradients.
- Landscaping and irrigation, trees close to foundations or roof.
- Surrounding area and flood risk: terrain slopes, streams, level relative to the road.
- Stormwater drainage: gullies, channels, where downpipes discharge.
- Pergolas, canopies and shades (fixing, watertightness).
- Parking or garage, outbuildings, exterior lighting.
- Water pump, well or storage tank; septic tank or sewer connection.
Swimming pool and plant room
- Basin and lining: cracks, signs of leaks, tiles or liner.
- Plant room: pumps, filters, dosing, watertightness, ventilation.
- Water circulation and clarity, skimmers or overflow, inlets.
- Pool deck and safety: slip resistance, fencing, depth markings.
- Pool electrics: underwater lighting, equipotential bonding, residual-current protection.
Structure and envelope
- Foundations: signs of settlement and cracking.
- Load-bearing walls, columns, beams and slabs (cracks, exposed rebar).
- Roof: tiles, timber structure, waterproofing, gutters, scanned by drone in visible and thermal imaging.
- Windows, external doors and the security door.
- External and rising damp, external insulation, basement and ventilation trench.
Installations
- Electrics: consumer unit, breakers and RCD, wiring, sockets and switches, earthing, solar PV, supply and meter.
- Plumbing: pipework, drainage, water heater or solar thermal, bathrooms, kitchen, water pressure, main shut-offs.
- Heating and cooling: boiler and burner, radiators or underfloor heating, air conditioning and heat pumps, thermostats, ventilation, fireplace and chimney, oil tank or gas supply. Gas hobs are function-tested where present.
Interior and safety
- Walls, floors, ceilings, doors, wardrobes, kitchen, bathroom tiling, internal stairs.
- Internal damp, mould and musty odours, checked with a moisture meter, a FLIR thermal camera and an endoscopic camera.
- Smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, extinguishers, railings and child safety.
Documents
We record whether they exist: building permit and plans, topographic survey, land registry (Ktimatologio) entry, municipal property tax (TAP) certificate, legalisation of unauthorised works, Energy Performance Certificate, ENFIA property tax, utility clearance certificates and insurance.
How it works
- Enquiry. Send us the location, type and size of the property and your timeline.
- Quote and agreement. We agree the scope and date. The inspection limits form part of the agreement.
- Site visit of 2–4 hours. Visual inspection, drone, thermal camera, moisture meter and endoscope. Attend if you like; if you are abroad, your agent or the owner can provide access.
- Report in 48–72 hours, ideally before you sign the preliminary contract or pay a deposit.
What the report contains
- A summary of the key findings.
- A score for each system (plot, pool, structure, roof, MEP, interior).
- Prioritised issues with indicative repair-cost estimates, useful for negotiating the price.
- Photo evidence, thermal images and drone shots.
- Your choice of English, German, Bulgarian, Serbian or Greek.
- Co-signature by a TEE-member civil engineer.
What it does not cover
The inspection is visual and non-invasive: we do not open walls, drill, move furniture or climb onto dangerous roofs (that is what the drone is for). We do not inspect buried irrigation or underground tanks, determine boundaries or exact floor area, run laboratory tests or value the property. See the full list of what we don't do.
Where we work
We cover all of Halkidiki (Kassandra, Sithonia, Nikiti, Pefkochori and the rest of the peninsula), Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia. For villas and investment properties we travel across Greece.
Buying a flat instead? See our apartment inspection. Curious what a drone and thermal camera actually show? Read about drone and thermal imaging.
Next step
Tell us about the property: location, type, size, whether it has a pool, and when you plan to sign.
- Phone & WhatsApp: +30 698 750 4050
- Email: a4uusa@yahoo.com
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 09:00–19:00 (Greek time)