Editorial
An old-standard condo at about 3 million yen. Visiting by day and night, the lack of people, piled-up mail and a dark building showed it was close to neglected, so we passed.
Contents
It was a condo built under the old seismic standards, priced at around 3 million yen: a one-bedroom unit with a living-dining area. I considered it with the thought that renting it out would be enough.
The first rule is to go and see the property in person. Documents, photos and floor plans do not show the surroundings, the atmosphere or the smell of a place, so visiting the site matters a great deal. Investing happens entirely on site. Always go yourself.
By day: something felt off the moment I entered
You need to visit both by day and by night. When I went in the daytime, it felt chilly from the moment I stepped into the entrance. There was no sense of people, the air felt cold, and even though it was summer I thought “it is oddly cool here”. That was where I first felt something was wrong.
Next I looked around the unit I was considering. It was an owner-change sale (with a tenant in place), but I could see no sign of people moving around. The mailboxes were full of accumulated mail, and I wondered what was going on.
By night: a very dark building
When I went at night, the building was extremely dark. It seemed to be self-managed. That would have been fine if it were properly self-managed, but I think this one was in a state of near neglect.
Why we passed
Even at 3 million yen, I judged this was not a property to buy, and I passed on it. I came away thinking it is important to go to the site first and feel it with your own eyes, ears and nose.
What this case shows
- Do not judge a property from documents and photos alone; go and see it.
- Visit both by day and by night, and check the entrance, the surroundings, signs of people and the lighting.
- Look at signs that show how a building is managed and occupied, such as the state of the mailboxes.
- For self-managed buildings, check whether management is actually being carried out.
This is a record of an individual’s own decision and is not a recommendation of any property or investment. Legal points are described in the context of Japan; please consult a lawyer or a licensed real estate professional before making an actual decision.