Avoid the Voetstoots Trap.
Don't buy a house in South Africa without this checklist.
Over 150 inspection points distilled from a combined 25+ years and multiple property purchases, including the one that cost us almost R100,000 in repairs we should have spotted before signing the OTP.
Or get the FREE 15 red flags guide
PDF + printable + mobile-friendly. Instant download after checkout.
The expensive lessons
The estate agent isn't going to tell you any of this, and sellers don't advertise problems.
We learned the hard way. From structural cracks and hidden damp, to properties being sold with occupants still inside; issues that only reveal themselves when it's already too late.
Our first purchase, we arrived on move-in day to find tenants still living in the house, completely unaware it had been sold. What followed was a six-month legal battle just to take possession.
These aren't rare edge cases, they're the kinds of things most buyers don't even think to check. And they're exactly what this checklist is designed to catch in your very first property walkthrough.
Most checklists tell you what to look for. This system helps you understand what it means.
WHAT'S INSIDE PREMIUM
Over 150 checks, prompts and insights. 12 key inspection areas and decision tools. Built for South Africa's property market.
Not a generic American checklist. Every item is written for South African conditions, regulations, and the quirks of houses from Sea Point flats to Hartbeespoort smallholdings.
- Electrical & CoC red flags
- Plumbing & geyser audit
- Roof, ceilings & damp
- Foundations & cracks
- Boundary walls & SG diagrams
- Security: gates, beams, armed response
- Borehole & water tanks
- Solar, inverters & load-shedding kit
- Pool compliance & fencing
- Zoning, levies & rates clearance
- Pest: borer, termites, rats
- Neighbourhood & municipal checks
Start here: 15 Property Red Flags Most Buyers Miss
A free, quick-read PDF that shows you what to look for before you even step inside. No spam, just one email with the download link.
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Why this, not that
Inspection firms cost thousands. Generic apps miss the local stuff.
Most buyers only call in a professional once they're emotionally committed and ready to put in an offer. By then, R3 500 to R8 000 in inspection fees feels like the cost of doing business, even if the report tells you to walk away. There's a smarter way.
Professional inspectors
R3 500 to R8 000 per property. Need to be booked days in advance. Most buyers only call them in after they've already fallen in love with a place, and after the offer is on the table.
Generic inspection apps
Built for the US or UK market. No mention of CoC certificates, SG diagrams, rates clearance, body corporate levies, or load-shedding kit. Tick boxes without context.
This system
Use it at every single viewing, from the first walk-through. Written by a South African couple who have been burnt, for the realities of SA homes, paperwork, and sellers.
What buyers say
Used by first-time buyers and seasoned ones alike
“Walked into my third viewing this week with the checklist finally in hand and spotted things I would never have noticed. Already favourited the download.”
Thandi M.
First-time buyer, Cape Town
“Wish I had this for my first house. The SA-specific stuff around tenant occupation and rates clearance alone is worth it.”
Pieter v.d. Berg
Experienced buyer, Pretoria
“Used it at every viewing and felt confident asking the agent the right questions.”
Nomsa K.
Home buyer, Durban
The voetstoots trap
In South Africa, "voetstoots" means the defect is your problem the moment you sign.
Almost every offer to purchase in SA is sold voetstoots, meaning "as is". Once the ink is dry, that rising damp problem, the geyser about to burst, the illegal carport without plans, the boundary wall on the neighbour's land; they all belong to you. The seller is only liable for defects they deliberately concealed, and proving that in court is slow, expensive and usually unsuccessful.
The only real protection is finding the problems before you sign the OTP. That's exactly what this checklist is designed to do; identify the red flags while you still have leverage to negotiate, or walk away.
- Hidden damp the seller painted over
- Non-compliant electrical & plumbing
- Building work without council plans
- Encroachments & missing SG diagrams
From the author
"We made the mistakes so you don't have to."
We've bought multiple properties in South Africa. Some were great. Some were expensive lessons in damp, dodgy wiring, and paperwork that wasn't actually in order. And one was handed to us with squatters still occupying the property. This checklist is everything you can run through before even thinking about putting down a deposit or signing the OTP.
Choose your checklist.
Standard helps you check a property. Premium helps you decide whether to buy it.
A complete inspection checklist covering every angle a buyer needs to walk through a property with confidence.
- Full tick-box inspection checklist across every room and system
- Covers structure, roof, damp, plumbing, electrical & CoC red flags
- Security, tenant occupation, boundaries, pool & outdoor compliance checks
- SA-specific items: SG diagrams, zoning, levies, rates clearance
- Printable A4 + mobile-friendly PDF
The full decision-support system for serious buyers.
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Structured notes + built-in risk awareness; understand what you're seeing, not just what to check
- Pattern-based interpretation; identify when multiple issues point to real risk
- Full supporting system; pre-viewing, post-viewing, and "what to do next" guidance
- Decision support & comparison tools; know whether to proceed, negotiate, or walk away
- Printable A4 + mobile-friendly PDF for on-site use
Questions buyers ask
Your next property could cost you, or save you, hundreds of thousands.
Standard from R149. Premium R349. Walk into every viewing like you've done it a hundred times.