Illustration generated for this guide. It does not represent a property for sale.
Original ComparImmo illustration, created for this guide.
Start with the complete report
A listing for a house in Wallonia says the electrical installation is not compliant. That deserves attention, but it does not price the work. Ask for the complete inspection report before turning that line into a discount or a renovation allowance. Your first question is straightforward: what does the report actually record, and which documents help explain its conclusion? FPS Economy states that the electrical file includes single-line diagrams, layout plans and reports from an approved inspection body. The safety framework is federal. This guide uses a purchase in Wallonia as its example; it does not present the RGIE as a rule applying only to Wallonia. Keep the electrical inspection separate from the PEB energy certificate. A home may have good energy performance while still requiring electrical checks. When reading a property file, give each document its own place and retain the questions it does not answer.
Identify the scope and the history
Find the address, inspection date, inspection body and report reference. Read the remarks before reducing the conclusion to a single word. Ask which parts of the installation are described and whether you have received the latest available document. An older inspection and a recent photograph of the distribution board do not necessarily describe the same situation. Prepare document questions for your viewing: has work been carried out since this inspection? Is there an invoice, an updated diagram or another report? Do the supplied documents cover an extension, garage or solar installation? These requests identify what needs examination without asking you to decide whether the installation complies. Do not handle the installation to test a theory. Show the documents to the electrician and ask the relevant inspection body to explain technical remarks. Information missing from the copy you received should remain something to obtain.
The deadline depends on the inspection situation
The official FAQ about sales distinguishes older and adapted installations as well as different types of inspection. A deadline taken from another file therefore does not automatically apply to yours. Ask the notary and approved inspection body to confirm the applicable regime, the starting date of the deadline and the steps required. Record their answer beside the inspection report reference. If the sale provides for one party to carry out particular work, have that commitment clarified in the transaction documents. A sentence heard during a viewing does not adequately describe the scope of the work or the evidence of completion. Before preparing your purchase offer, distinguish your preferred timetable from the timetable confirmed for the file. Moving in, replacing a kitchen and electrical work may need coordination. Have that arrangement checked before committing to a date.
Ask for a quote that addresses the remarks
Send the report and its attachments to the electrician who will visit the property. To prepare a renovation budget, ask the quote to identify the proposed work and anything still requiring investigation. Do not compare only the figure at the bottom of the page. Ask for materials, labour, documents to update and any repairs to finishes to be specified. Also ask who will arrange the necessary inspection after the work, whether its cost is included and what limitations the quote contains. The electrician and approved inspection body have different roles; an invoice for work does not by itself answer every question in the file. Fictional example: one quote provides for work on the distribution board, while another also covers work in several rooms. The second amount may be higher without being more expensive for a comparable scope. Ask for an explanation of the differences before assigning a financial allowance to the property.
Compare uncertainty as well as prices
To compare two homes, give the complete inspection report its own line, followed by the available attachments and the quote obtained. Add the date of each document and the question still open. “Not received” does not mean “free of defects”. Fictional example: house A has a complete report and a quote prepared after a site visit. For house B, you only have the listing’s wording and a verbal estimate. You cannot yet give both properties the same level of budget certainty. The comparison should show that difference rather than hide it inside a single figure. In your purchase budget, separate the property price, acquisition costs and quoted work. Keep unknown expenses visible. An allowance calculated using a generic percentage cannot replace a quote tailored to the remarks and the installation.
Keep useful records after the purchase
ComparImmo can prepare a summary from a PDF containing readable text. Use it to locate remarks and prepare requests for documents. Read the extracts again in the original inspection report: the application does not inspect electrical installations or issue a compliance certificate. Once answers arrive, keep the initial report, quotes, invoices and new documents under distinct names. Proprioo’s guide to the rental file recommends consistent naming and separating signed versions from drafts. That approach supports follow-up after purchase, particularly if you later intend to let the property. A useful file lets you find the document supporting each answer. Before settling your final budget, have the remaining uncertain work explained and ask which check will close it out.
Sources and references
ComparImmo editorial team. Sources checked on 2026-10-06. Check the rules for the region and your circumstances before making a commitment.