A good viewing takes 30 to 45 minutes and is built around one idea: check what photos cannot show. That means water pressure, damp, wiring, noise, the landlord's right to rent the place, and what the lease will say. Use the checklist below on your phone, go through every room in the same order each time, and write down what you find before you compare apartments.
This guide is written for renters and buyers in Albania, where practical details such as water supply, heating and paperwork matter as much as the view from the balcony.
TL;DR
- Visit at the hours you will actually be home, and bring a phone, a charger, a notebook and a tape measure.
- Inspect walls, ceilings, windows, taps, the boiler and the fuse box. Damp, cracks and weak water pressure are the problems that cost the most later.
- Ask for proof that the person showing the apartment can rent or sell it, plus recent utility bills.
- Put every agreed point in writing, with photos and meter readings, as an annex to the lease.
- Walk the street too: noise, parking, transport and shops decide how the place feels day to day.
Table of Contents
- Before you go: preparation that saves a wasted trip
- Arrival and the building: the first five minutes
- Inside the apartment: room by room
- Water, power and heating: the systems that cost real money
- Outside the apartment: the neighborhood
- Questions to ask the landlord or agent
- If you are buying: extra checks
- How to document what you find
- A printable checklist to copy into your notes
- Our perspective: look for the reasons, not just the flaws
- Find apartments you can view with confidence
- FAQ
- Sources
Before you go: preparation that saves a wasted trip
Most bad viewings are bad because the visit was unplanned. Spend ten minutes beforehand.
Confirm the basics by message. Ask the monthly rent, the deposit, the move-in date, whether the place is furnished, and which utilities are included. If the answers differ from the listing, you have saved yourself the trip. When you search on Pelikani's listings, the details are shown up front and you can contact the verified owner or agent directly, so these questions can be settled before you leave home.
Pick the right time. Visiting at a time similar to when you will usually be at home helps you judge noise and how the property feels. If you work days, see it on a weekday evening. If you sleep early, listen to the street at night. A quiet Sunday morning tells you very little about a road with cafes below.
Pack a small kit.
- Phone with a full battery, for photos, video and a flashlight
- A phone charger, to test outlets
- A notebook or notes app with this checklist
- A tape measure, to check that your bed, sofa and fridge fit
- A small cup or bottle, to check drains and water pressure
- Your ID, in case the owner asks for it before discussing terms
Make a list of must-haves. Decide before you go what would make you walk away: no heating, no reliable water, a landlord who cannot show ownership, a rent above your limit. A list stops a charming balcony from overruling a broken boiler.
Arrival and the building: the first five minutes
Your judgment starts before the apartment door opens.
- Exterior and entrance. Look at the facade for cracks, stains from leaking pipes and the condition of balconies. A well-kept entrance usually means an active building community.
- Stairwell and elevator. Check lighting, cleanliness and whether the elevator works. Ask which floor you will be on if the elevator stops, and whether there is a monthly building fee.
- Security. Look at the main door lock, the apartment door and any intercom. Check whether ground-floor and balcony-accessible windows have decent locks.
- Parking. If you drive, see where you would actually park at the hour you come home.
- Neighbors. If someone passes, a short, polite question about the building costs nothing and often reveals more than the landlord will.
Inside the apartment: room by room
Work systematically. A useful rule is to check the structure first, then the systems, then the comfort details. Experts who advise people viewing property in Albania, including this practical guide from a local advisory firm, recommend looking at walls, ceilings and foundations for cracks or uneven surfaces, and for signs of mold, water stains, peeling paint, musty smells and discoloration.
Entry, living room and hallways
- Open and close every door. Do they stick, scrape or fail to latch?
- Try every key in every lock, and ask how many sets exist.
- Look at the upper corners of walls and ceilings for dark patches or bubbling paint.
- Smell the air. A musty smell in a closed apartment is a clue even when walls have been freshly painted.
- Stand still for a minute and listen for neighbors, traffic and plumbing noise from above.
- Look at the floor along the walls: lifted tiles, swollen laminate or a damp edge point to moisture.
Windows, balconies and drafts
- Open and close every window. Check seals, handles and glass for cracks.
- Hold your hand near the frame on a windy day to feel drafts.
- Look at the window type: double glazing makes a noticeable difference for both noise and heating bills.
- Check balcony railings and the floor surface. Ask whether the balcony is enclosed, and whether that enclosure is allowed in the building.
- Note which direction the apartment faces. A south-facing flat is bright in winter and hot in summer, and an apartment with no cross-ventilation can stay stuffy.
If noise is a concern, our guide on soundproofing an apartment explains what actually works and what is not worth paying for.
Kitchen
- Run the tap hot and cold. Check pressure, and whether hot water arrives quickly.
- Look under the sink for moisture, rust, swollen cabinet bases or a damp smell.
- Check that the drain empties without gurgling.
- Test the stove, oven and extractor hood. Ask whether they stay with the apartment.
- Open the fridge and cabinets if furnished, and note any damage.
- Count the outlets near the counter and test one with your charger.
Bathroom
- Flush the toilet and watch the refill. A constantly running cistern wastes water and signals neglect.
- Run the shower for a full minute. You are testing pressure, temperature and drainage.
- Look at the grout and silicone around the tub or shower for black mold.
- Check for a window or a working fan. Without ventilation, damp returns.
- Look at the ceiling directly below any bathroom above you for stains.
Bedrooms
- Measure the space against your bed and wardrobe.
- Check wall corners behind where furniture would stand, especially outside walls, where damp often hides.
- Check outlets near the bed and desk areas.
- Note the street noise with the window closed.
Water, power and heating: the systems that cost real money
These are the checks that cover most expensive surprises.
Water supply. Some areas in Albania experience intermittent water supply, so check whether the building has a water tank, test water pressure on the highest floor you are considering, and ask about boiler capacity. Ask the landlord or neighbors how often the water is cut and for how long. If you cook and shower daily, a small boiler and weak pressure get old quickly.
Electrical installation. Ask how old the electrical installation is and look for a modern fuse box. Test lights, switches and outlets where you can, because outdated or faulty wiring can require costly upgrades. Signs to note: scorch marks on outlets, buzzing, flickering lights, and cables running exposed along walls. For a rental, any electrical problem should be fixed by the landlord and written into the agreement.
Heating and cooling. Ask how the apartment is heated and cooled: air conditioning units, electric heaters, central heating or a boiler. Ask the age of each unit and who pays for repairs. Request the previous winter's bills if possible, because the heating bill is often the largest variable cost.
Internet. Ask which providers reach the building and whether a line is already installed. If you want to arrange it before the move, you can check internet setup through Pelikani.
Outside the apartment: the neighborhood
A flat is only as good as the street it sits on. Walk at least ten minutes in each direction and check the points a local advisor lists for property viewers: cleanliness, amenities, access to shops, healthcare, schools and transport, parking, noise and future development.
Practical ways to do it:
- Walk to the nearest grocery store, pharmacy and bus stop, and time each trip.
- Come back after dark if you did the first viewing in daylight.
- Look for construction sites nearby. A new building next door means months of noise and dust and may block your view.
- Check where garbage bins are and whether they are emptied regularly.
- Look at the road at rush hour, not just at midday.
Questions to ask the landlord or agent
A viewing is also an interview of the person who will be your counterpart. Ask these and write down the answers.
About the person. Who owns the apartment, and are you the owner? Renters should verify the landlord's identity and authority. The same source notes that landlords should provide a passport and a recent ownership certificate, and if they are not the owner, a notarized power of attorney. If someone is renting on behalf of an owner, ask to see that document.
About money.
- What is the total monthly rent, who do I pay it to and on which date?
- How large is the deposit and under what conditions is it returned?
- Which bills are on top of rent: electricity, water, building maintenance, garbage, internet?
- Can I see recent utility bills? Experienced renters ask for these and record meter readings at move-in.
About the lease.
- How long is the term, and what are the termination and notice rules?
- Who handles repairs, and how fast do they respond?
- Why is the apartment vacant, and how long has it been empty?
- Are subletting, pets or visitors restricted?
One more point about electricity: under the universal service contract for electricity supply published by Albania's energy regulator, the customer cannot resell electricity from their network to other customers. That matters if a landlord proposes to bill you from a shared meter at a rate you cannot verify. Ask whose name the meter is in.
If you want to understand the other side of the table, read what landlords look for in rental application criteria in Albania so you arrive prepared with the documents they expect.
If you are buying: extra checks
Buying adds a layer of paperwork that a renter can skip. The apartment may look perfect and still have a legal problem.
- Property documents. Albania's State Cadastre Agency issues property certificates that must be accompanied by the updated cadastral map and property card. Ask the seller for these and check that the name, area and boundaries match what you are shown.
- Older homes. Some homes built before 1991 have had their ownership registered only recently. Owners of such homes can register through e-Albania and obtain the property documents, so ask whether this has been completed.
- Structure. Look harder at cracks. Hairline plaster cracks are common, but wide, diagonal or growing cracks in load-bearing walls need a structural engineer's opinion before you pay anything.
- Financing. If you plan to use a loan, understand the terms early. Our guides on fixed versus variable mortgages and the mortgage prepayment penalty cover the choices you will face.
For legal checks on a purchase, a lawyer or notary should review the documents before you sign or transfer any money.
How to document what you find
A checklist is only useful if it leaves a record. Before you commit:
- Photograph and film every room, including any damage, with the date on your phone. Take close-ups of cracks, stains and scratches.
- Record meter readings for electricity and water on the day of handover, in a handover report with photos.
- Make a signed inventory of furniture and appliances with their condition, attached as an annex to the lease. The same source recommends putting every agreed term in writing in the lease itself.
- Turn promises into lines in the contract. If the landlord agrees to repaint, fix the boiler or add a wardrobe, it needs a deadline and a line in the agreement.
- Sleep on it. Compare your notes against your must-have list and against at least one other apartment before you pay a deposit.
A printable checklist to copy into your notes
| Area | What to check | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Building | Facade, entrance, elevator, locks | Cracks, stains, broken door lock |
| Walls and ceilings | Corners, window edges, behind furniture | Dark patches, peeling paint, musty smell |
| Windows and doors | Open, close, lock, feel for drafts | Sticking frames, cracked glass |
| Kitchen | Tap pressure, sink base, stove, hood | Leaks, rust, slow drains |
| Bathroom | Shower, toilet, grout, ventilation | Black mold, no airflow |
| Electricity | Fuse box, outlets, switches | Old box, scorch marks, flickering |
| Water and heating | Tank, boiler size, heating type | Frequent cuts, no hot water |
| Neighborhood | Noise, parking, shops, transport | Construction next door, no parking |
| Paperwork | Owner ID, ownership proof, bills | Owner will not show documents |
Our perspective: look for the reasons, not just the flaws
After years of watching how people search for property, we see the same pattern. Buyers and renters fall for the photos, then discover the details after signing. The reverse also happens: people reject a good apartment over a cosmetic flaw, such as an old kitchen, while ignoring the expensive stuff, such as damp, weak water supply or unclear ownership.
Our advice is to sort every flaw into one of three boxes. Cosmetic flaws, such as paint and old fixtures, can be negotiated or fixed cheaply. Systems, such as wiring, boiler and plumbing, need an honest answer and a written repair promise. Structure and legal status, such as cracks, damp inside walls and missing ownership papers, are the ones that should end a conversation if they are not resolved.
We built Pelikani so the first step is easier. There are no fees for buyers, and you can speak directly to verified owners and agents, so you can ask these questions before you spend an afternoon on a viewing.
— Albin
Find apartments you can view with confidence
When you are ready to compare, browse apartments, houses and commercial spaces on Pelikani. Listings show full details, you pay no buyer fees, and you contact verified owners and agents directly. Use the filters to narrow by location, then take this checklist to each viewing.
After you move in, our home services section covers help with internet, furnishing, cleaning and repairs.
FAQ
How long should an apartment viewing take?
Plan for 30 to 45 minutes for the apartment and another 10 to 15 minutes to walk the street. Rushing through in ten minutes is how people miss damp, weak water pressure and noise. If you like the place, ask to come back at another time of day.
What should I bring to a rental viewing?
Bring your phone, a charger for testing outlets, a tape measure, your ID and your must-have list. A notebook is useful for the landlord's answers. If you are serious, also bring the documents a landlord is likely to ask for, so you can move quickly on a good apartment.
What are the most important things to check when viewing an apartment?
Start with moisture: walls, ceilings, window edges and under the sinks. Then test water pressure and hot water, the fuse box and outlets, and heating. Finally, confirm that the person showing the apartment can legally rent or sell it. These three areas cause the most expensive problems.
Should I take photos during a viewing?
Yes, but ask permission first. Photos and video of every room, and especially any damage, give you evidence for the inventory and the handover report. They also help you compare apartments later, when details start to blur.
Can I negotiate after the viewing?
Yes. Flaws you found are a legitimate basis to ask for a lower rent, a repair or an added item such as a wardrobe. Whatever is agreed should be written into the lease with a date, not left as a verbal promise.
Sources
- How To Find Apartments for Rent in Albania, HowAlbania
- 12 Things to Look Out for When Viewing a Property, ExpatTax Albania
- Renting an Apartment in Albania: Lease, Deposit, Bills
- General conditions of the universal service contract for electricity supply, ERE
- Property certificate rules, State Cadastre Agency (ASHK)
- Registration of ownership for old homes through e-Albania, ATA