Technical inspection when buying a property

A technical inspection on Bonaire can give you more insight into the structural condition, maintenance and potential repair costs when buying a property. An inspector assesses the property and identifies visible defects and expected repair costs. This gives you, as a buyer, a better understanding of the condition of the property before the purchase becomes final.

A technical inspection is also referred to as a property inspection, building inspection or pre-purchase inspection. The inspection is a visual assessment at a specific point in time and does not provide any guarantees for the future. The inspector assesses what is visible and accessible without opening up or damaging parts of the property.

Clearly visible materials that may contain asbestos can be reported during the inspection. However, a technical inspection is not an asbestos inspection and cannot rule out the presence of asbestos.

When is a technical inspection recommended?

We advise buyers to have a technical inspection carried out before purchasing a property. A building inspection can be particularly useful for older properties because of potential wear and tear, deferred maintenance or defects.

An inspection can also be useful for a newer property. After all, the age of a property does not tell you everything about its construction quality, previous maintenance or current technical condition.

A technical inspection gives you a better understanding of repairs and maintenance that may be required in the short or longer term. This information can be important when deciding whether to purchase the property and when determining the conditions you want to include in your offer.

What is included in an inspection report?

After the technical inspection, you receive an inspection report describing the structural and maintenance condition of the property at the time of the inspection.

An inspection report will generally include:

• basic property information, such as the address, year of construction and inspection date;
• a summary and conclusion from the inspector;
• identified defects and their location;
• photographs of relevant defects;
• an estimate of potential repair costs;
• items that may require additional investigation.

As a buyer, you can use this information to get a better understanding of the costs you may face after purchasing the property. Depending on the findings, you can take future maintenance into account, make arrangements with the seller regarding repairs or use the findings in further negotiations.

Technical inspection as a contingency

When making an offer on a property on Bonaire, you can include a technical inspection as a contingency. This allows you to agree in advance under which circumstances you may terminate the purchase agreement if the inspection reveals serious defects.

On Harbourtown Real Estate’s offer form, you can indicate whether you want to include a technical inspection as a contingency. A maximum amount for repair costs can be agreed in advance. For example, our offer form allows you to select US$ 5,000, US$ 7,500 or US$ 10,000, although higher amounts are also possible.

If the repair costs for the defects specified in the contingency exceed the agreed amount, the buyer may invoke this contingency.

At Harbourtown Real Estate, this contingency expires 14 days after the purchase agreement has been fully signed. It is therefore important to schedule the technical inspection in time. The cost of the technical inspection is paid by the buyer.

How much does a technical inspection cost on Bonaire?

The cost of a technical inspection varies between inspectors and may depend on factors such as the size, type and characteristics of the property.

Ask the inspector in advance about the cost of the inspection, which parts of the property will be checked and what will be included in the inspection report. The time required to receive the report and the cost of any additional investigations may also vary between providers.

Who carries out technical inspections on Bonaire?

There are several companies and building professionals on Bonaire that you can contact for a technical or building inspection. These include:

1. BeCaB
2. Bonaire Bouw Management
3. Pieters
4. Ranis Engineers
5. Taxabon

If you would like to use a different inspector, this is only possible with the seller’s prior approval. Ask the inspector in advance which parts of the property will be checked and about their current terms and fees.

Buying a property on Bonaire with Harbourtown Real Estate

If you are buying a property on Bonaire, it is important to consider not only its location, layout and appearance, but also its technical condition and state of maintenance. A technical inspection can provide valuable information about visible defects, necessary maintenance and potential repair costs.

Harbourtown Real Estate assists buyers throughout the purchasing process and can help you include a technical inspection as a contingency in your offer and purchase agreement. We can also provide information about the accredited companies on Bonaire that carry out technical inspections.

The technical inspection is carried out independently of Harbourtown Real Estate. The inspector assesses the property independently. Harbourtown Real Estate does not receive any commission or other compensation for referring you to an inspector.

This gives you a better understanding of what you are buying and helps you make a well-informed decision.