Property Inspection Checklist for NRIs

Whether you're inspecting your own property on a visit home, briefing a relative on what to look for, or reviewing a report from a hired inspection service, it helps to work from an actual checklist rather than a general sense of "does it look okay." Below is the list we use to structure our own visits, organized into the order a thorough inspection typically follows.

1. Confirm identity and location

GPS coordinates match the survey number and address in your documents
The plot's shape and orientation match the approved layout or survey sketch
Neighbouring plot references (if any) match what's on record

2. Check access

The access road or path to the property is usable and matches the recorded right of way
No new obstruction, gate or structure has appeared blocking access
Access width is consistent with earlier visits or documented records

3. Inspect boundaries

Boundary markers (stones, pillars, fencing) are present and appear undisturbed
Fence lines and walls match the plot's recorded extent
No sign that a boundary has been moved, widened, or encroached upon by an adjoining plot

4. Look for signs of occupation or encroachment

Any new fencing, sheds, or temporary structures not previously present
Signs of cultivation, grazing, parking or storage by someone other than the owner
Recently disturbed soil, new pathways, or cleared vegetation suggesting recent activity

5. Review structures on the property

Any existing building, compound wall or shed matches its last known condition
Visible damage, unauthorised additions, or partial demolition since the last visit
Roofing, walls and foundation show no obvious new deterioration

6. Assess maintenance condition

Vegetation overgrowth that could obscure boundaries or invite encroachment
Drainage or water accumulation that could affect the land or any structure
General upkeep — is the site visibly cared for or visibly abandoned?

7. Note utilities, where relevant

Electricity connection status and meter condition, if applicable
Water source or connection status, if applicable
Any visible unauthorised tapping of utilities on the site

8. Capture photo and video evidence

Date- and time-stamped photographs from consistent vantage points
Wide shots of the full boundary as well as close-ups of markers, gates and structures
Video walkthrough where possible, for a fuller record than photos alone

9. Confirm GPS and location evidence

A GPS reading taken on-site, cross-checked against the property's recorded coordinates
A map or location reference included with the inspection record

10. Review property records

Sale deed and owner name consistent with current documents
Mutation record and property-tax status up to date
Encumbrance Certificate reviewed for the relevant period — see our FAQs for how EC review fits into a fuller records check, and our article on what an EC actually shows and doesn't show

11. Know when to bring in professional or legal help

A licensed surveyor, if exact boundary measurement is in dispute
A lawyer, if a title, inheritance or ownership question can't be resolved from documents alone
A structural engineer, if a building's condition raises safety questions

12. Produce a final documented report

The value of an inspection compounds when it's written down properly — a dated report bringing together the findings above, the photographs, the GPS reference, and a clear status summary. A report like this is what lets you compare visits over time, and what you'd want in hand if a dispute or a sale ever required you to demonstrate the property's condition on a given date.

Using this checklist

You're welcome to use this list on your own visits, or hand it to a relative helping you check on a property. If you'd rather have it carried out independently and documented professionally, our Land Check service follows this same structure, delivered as a written report with photographs and GPS confirmation. You can read more about how we approach evidence and disclosure on our Trust & Transparency page.