A property visit produces a useful result when, on your return, you can explain what you saw, what information you received and which questions remain open. Your memory of the place matters; an organised sheet allows you to compare it with the needs you had before leaving.
This insight proposes a practical method to use before, during and after the trip. It complements the buying guide with a working tool: for each point, an observation, a source and a next step.
Before the visit
Before leaving: write down what needs to work for you
Start with the intended use. For personal stays, everyday routines, the needs of your travelling companions and the ability to organise the home when you are away are relevant. If you are also considering letting, prepare a separate set of questions about management, the calendar and costs.
Divide your requirements into three categories: essential, preferred and still to be defined. For example, the number of bedrooms may be essential; a particular orientation may be preferred; availability for letting may still be undecided. Do not let a very attractive feature make you forget a necessary requirement.
Share the dates, participants, any accessibility needs and projects to explore with your contact. The MGM Inspection Tour page provides for visits agreed according to the programme and site accessibility. Before booking, the programme, accommodation, connections and conditions of the selected option must be confirmed; an information request is not a booking.
Prepare a sheet for each property
Use a precise reference: project, building, floor and unit, where available. Also record the date of the visit and who accompanies you. If you are viewing a show unit or an apartment different from the one being offered, note this: the comparison must remain linked to the correct property.
Comparison sheet
| Before the visit | During the visit | After the visit |
|---|---|---|
| List of personal requirements | Observations relating to the unit | Requirements met and outstanding questions |
| Available property sheet, floor plan and specifications | Differences from the materials received | Documents or clarification to request |
| Questions about access and services | Routes and conditions actually observed | Checks to complete at other times |
| Intended use and management assumptions | Meeting with your contact, if agreed | Scope and costs to be confirmed in writing |
The sheet should not become a score that decides for you. It helps make information comparable and prevents unanswered questions from disappearing from the assessment.
During the visit
Observe the surroundings with your routines in mind
Try the access routes and connections to services you would actually use. Note whether a journey was made on foot or by car, and in what conditions. A distance on a map and a journey time you have experienced answer different questions.
Observe light, shade, ventilation, noise, privacy and the relationship with neighbouring spaces. Record the time and conditions of the visit. A visit during a single part of the day does not describe every possible condition: if an aspect is decisive, plan another check.
For services and connections, ask for information relating to the dates and intended use. Do not turn a service observed once into a guarantee of continuous availability.
Compare what you see with what is described
Bring the available floor plan and identify entrances, rooms, terraces and common areas. Mark differences that need clarification and ask which document describes the layout covered by the proposal. Where permitted, photograph the points your questions refer to.
For finishes, furnishings and building services, distinguish what is present, what is included in the offer and what is a possible addition. The presence of an item in the apartment visited or in a marketing image does not by itself establish whether it is included in the individual unit.
A visitor’s observations are useful for formulating questions, but do not replace a technical inspection. Any anomalies or questions about building services, materials, waterproofing and the condition of the building should be referred to the appointed professional.
Keep visible condition and documentary status separate
‘The space appears finished’ is an observation. ‘This unit has been handed over’ requires evidence relating to that unit. ‘The property can be used as intended’ is a matter to verify through documentation and with the competent parties.
For a property under construction, ask which activities are complete, which remain, who must confirm them and the date of the update. For a property already in use, ask about its current status and the relevant documentation. Keep the planned timetable separate from events that have actually occurred.
Identifying the property is also a starting point for the documentary process. The GOV.CV property sales portal describes a digital procedure using the Código de Identificação Predial and providing for final confirmation of registration. The institutional page describes a service; its applicability and the documents required for your transaction must be checked with the relevant professionals and offices.
Set aside a meeting for ongoing management
Before returning, ask who your operational contact will be when you are not there. Explore access to the property, agreed checks, reporting of issues, maintenance, quotations and reporting of activities and costs. Ask which activities are covered by the appointment and which require a separate proposal.
If you expect guests, add questions about bookings, reception, cleaning and assistance. A possible service must become a defined appointment before it can be treated as a certainty in your plans. This list is a framework for checks, not a statement that every service is already available for every MGM property.
After the visit
Turn uncertainties into an action list
At the end of the visit, set aside a few minutes to recap with your contact. For each outstanding question, record the document or information to obtain, who will collect it and an agreed date for a response.
Verification log
| Point to clarify | Evidence required | Contact | Agreed date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit layout | Floor plan and description relating to the unit | To be indicated | To be agreed | Open |
| Included fittings and equipment | List applicable to the proposal | To be indicated | To be agreed | Open |
| Management during your absence | Service scope and quotation | To be indicated | To be agreed | Open |
| Status and timetable | Dated update and relevant evidence | To be indicated | To be agreed | Open |
When a response arrives, retain the reference and update the status. ‘Received’ does not automatically mean ‘verified’: a document may still need to be checked by the competent professional.
The outcome of the trip
A good outcome may be deciding to investigate a property further, rejecting it or understanding what information is missing. All three are useful results when the reasoning is clear. The visit should not force an immediate decision.
To organise a discussion in Boa Vista, start with the Inspection Tour form, specifying dates, participants and aspects to explore. For documents, overall costs and the buying process, consult the guide to buying property in Cape Verde.
Method and limitations. A practical framework from MGM Intelligence. It is not a surveyor’s report, a handover record, a confirmation of availability or a complete legal procedure. Observations, professional checks and contractual agreements remain separate steps. Sources and the service page checked on 1 October 2026.