What’s behind the walls of a 1970s Athens apartment

An old apartment is a history of alterations

The postwar apartment block shaped much of Athens housing. But a construction decade is not a condition report. Your flat may have had several owners, successive paint systems and repairs concealed by later decoration. Two apartments in the same building can need very different preparation.

Ask the agent for the last known decorating date, any leak history and photographs before furniture is removed. Request one wide view per room plus close-ups. If you are abroad, label the images by room so a mark in the bedroom is not confused with a kitchen stain.

Reference: Athens Social Atlas: the Athenian apartment block

Look for evidence, not a diagnosis by photograph

Glossy older coatings, powdery surfaces, patched areas, yellowing and cracks at junctions are possible findings. They are not inevitable in every older flat. A wardrobe can hide a surface that looks quite different from the room shown in the listing.

Do not ask your agent to scrape or sand unknown old coatings for a better photograph. Have the material and appropriate precautions assessed before disturbing it. A changing or recurring crack may need a suitably qualified building professional rather than a decorating repair. The painter’s scope should state that boundary.

Agree what needs an on-site check

The existing coating’s adhesion, loose plaster, moisture signs and compatibility with the proposed system can require inspection. A tap on the wall or a single meter reading is not a complete diagnosis. Ask which parts of the initial price remain provisional and what evidence will resolve them.

Name who can authorise a revised scope while you are away. Your agent may be able to open the door without being authorised to approve repairs. Separate those roles before work begins, especially if you will be in another time zone.

Turn findings into a written English scope

List the rooms, walls and ceilings, any agreed removal of loose material, local filling or full skim work, primer and finish system. Include floor protection, dust arrangements and excluded building repairs. Preparation should describe work, not merely occupy one unexplained line in the quote.

Keep photographs of the starting condition and preparation stages. If additional work is uncovered, agree its cost and timing before it proceeds. A final coat can make a surface look uniform; your records should also explain what was repaired beneath it.