For foreign buyers · 9 countries in Europe
Buying a home abroad? Have the documents checked before you sign.
Upload what the seller or the agent gave you. A partner lawyer in the country where the property is checks ownership, land register, permits and charges, and sends you a clear report in English or German — at a fixed price.
Avvocati.us has assisted foreign clients in Italy for about 25 years; in the other countries it works with partner law firms.
Summary by area, with what needs doing
- A lawyer in the country reviews every reportAI helps us read and cross-check the documents; a partner lawyer where the property is checks every finding.
- Report within 5 business daysFrom payment, in English or German, by email.
- Documents kept in the EUPrivate archive in Stockholm, deleted within 90 days after delivery.
Where we check
One service and one price in nine countries. In each one, a partner lawyer who works there reviews the documents.
Why buyers use Home Check
Buying abroad, you don't know the local paperwork — and problems tend to surface late, when they are hardest to fix.
Nobody else works only for you
The agent is usually paid only if the sale goes through, and where a notary is involved, they must stay neutral. Before you commit money, someone should read the documents on your side.
Surprises are expensive
A plan that doesn't match the property, work done without permits or a gap in the chain of ownership can delay completion by months — and once you've signed a preliminary contract, walking away can cost you your deposit.
Explained in plain language
In English or German, we tell you what each finding means for you and what to ask the seller before you make an offer.
What we check
We read the documents you upload and compare them with each other. Where paper isn't enough, we tell you who should check what on site.
Ownership and title
Who owns the property and how they acquired it — purchase, inheritance or gift — and whether the chain of title is complete.
Land register
What the land register or cadastre records — owners, plot, plans — and whether it matches the property you saw.
Planning and permits
Permits cited in the documents, and red flags that a local surveyor should check before you commit.
Energy certificate
Present, valid and consistent with the listing, where the country requires one.
Mortgages and charges
If you have a register extract or search, we read it and flag mortgages, liens, easements and other charges.
Owners' association
Fees, arrears and approved major works, if the building's documents are available.
What you get
A report you can act on before you make an offer.
- A report in English or German with a traffic-light summary.
- The list of missing documents and who issues them.
- Questions to ask the seller or agent before you make an offer.
- Points to consider for your offer and the preliminary contract.
How it works
Three steps, all online.
- 1
Upload what you have
Listing, floor plan, land-register extract, energy certificate, the seller's title deed. Clear photos are fine. Missing something? Send what you have.
- 2
A local lawyer confirms
Within one business day a partner lawyer in the country tells you whether we can review your documents, and Avvocati.us sends the invoice. If something is missing, we tell you what — free of charge.
- 3
You receive the report
Within 5 business days of payment, reviewed by the lawyer.
Add the missing documents
Upload the documents we asked for by email. We'll read them and get back to you.
Start your check
Tell us about the property and upload the documents. We reply within one business day.
- Fixed price: per property, all taxes included
- Nothing to pay until we confirm we can help
- You can cancel the request and delete your files right after sending
Prefer email? info@avvocati.us
Request received
Your reference:
Questions
Is this full legal representation?
No. It's a fixed-price review of the documents. If you then want a lawyer to assist you through the purchase, we'll send you a separate quote.
Which countries do you cover?
Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, England and Wales, Sweden, Norway and Hungary. In each country a partner law firm reviews the documents; Avvocati.us coordinates the work and sends the invoice.
Do I need to travel?
No. Everything happens online and by email.
Who is Avvocati.us?
A law firm (PLLC) based in Washington, D.C., with an office in Rome, that has assisted foreign clients in Italy for about 25 years — from the United States, Canada, the UK, France and elsewhere. For Home Check it works with partner law firms in the other countries.
Is it a survey of the building?
No. We review documents; we don't inspect the property. Where something needs a surveyor or an engineer on site, we tell you.
How do you use AI?
AI helps us read and cross-check the documents faster. A lawyer reviews every finding before the report reaches you.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Nothing is due until you accept our invoice, and you can cancel before we start. The terms come with the invoice.
What happens to my documents?
They're kept in a private archive in the EU, shared only with the partner lawyer in the country of the property, and deleted within 90 days after delivery. Details in the privacy notice.