Compare the full total for the same property
Confirm the saleable area and service type, then check the per-square-foot rate, minimum fee, stair or remote-area surcharges, extra tests and separately booked reinspection. Area multiplied by the rate may not be the final total; the minimum is not a flat fee for every unit. OPO's prices are its own terms, not a market-wide tariff.
First, confirm which area measurement is used.
This website’s property inspection services are calculated based on the unit's saleable area at HK$4.5 per square foot, with tiered minimum charges. When inquiring, provide the substantiated saleable area first, and avoid substituting gross floor area, area including common parts, or online estimates directly, as this creates gaps in the preliminary budget.
For new builds, first check sales materials and handover documents; for second-hand units, organise sale and purchase documents or other area data for verification when obtaining quotes. If figures across different documents are inconsistent, list the source and difference first, confirm which figure to adopt, and then compare quotes; do not change the area on the document based on your own measurements.
- Provide saleable area and sources of data.
- Specify the unit type and address.
- If there is doubt about the area, verify it first; do not use estimates as the final figure.
Price per square foot and minimum charge, whichever is higher.
The calculation method is to multiply the saleable area by HK$4.5 first, then compare it with the minimum charge for that area tier, adopting the higher amount. 250 sq. ft. or below, minimum HK$1,200; 251–350 sq. ft., minimum HK$1,400; 351–450 sq. ft., minimum HK$1,650. For over 450 sq. ft., calculate by multiplying the actual area by HK$4.5.
The minimum charge is not a fixed fee applied to the entire tier. For example, 300 sq. ft. multiplied by HK$4.5 is HK$1,350, which is lower than that tier's minimum of HK$1,400, so the basic fee is HK$1,400; 340 sq. ft. multiplied by HK$4.5 is HK$1,530, which is higher than the minimum charge, so it is calculated at HK$1,530. The above examples do not include additional items.
- Calculate area multiplied by unit price first.
- Then compare with the applicable minimum charge.
- Confirm estimates and formal quotes separately.
Understand the basic service clearly; do not infer the scope of inspection from the price.
When comparing fees, you must also check the inspection items, entry conditions, operable equipment, and site limitations. This website’s basic service includes 15 on-site inspections, on-site explanation, and an electronic property inspection report; seeing a total price does not mean that all hidden areas or specialised engineering tests are included.
The electronic report records problem locations and inspection results, does not include photos, and is usually issued on the next working day. If owners take on-site photos themselves, they can organise them separately to cross-reference with problem locations. General property inspection is also not equivalent to structural safety certification, statutory window inspection, or electrical engineering certification; specialised concerns should be confirmed and handled separately.
- Check the 15 inspection contents against actual limitations.
- Confirm available water, electricity, and equipment for operation.
- Understand report content and self-taken photos separately.
Additional items must be listed item by item.
The high-pressure water jet test is an additional fee item, requires permission, and costs an extra HK$200; it is not necessary for every unit. When booking, explain the site conditions and confirm if it is suitable and if the required permits can be obtained; do not assume additional tests are included in the basic fee.
Staircase fee is an extra HK$80/floor; remote area surcharges include Discovery Bay HK$800, Ma Wan HK$150, and outlying islands HK$1,000. Applicable items and the total must be confirmed based on the actual address, floor, and entry arrangements. The instant estimator does not include these surcharges; do not assume the estimate figure is a complete quote.
- High-pressure water jet test: Requires permission, extra HK$200.
- Disclose floor, whether there is a lift, and entry arrangements.
- Confirm complete items and total amount before payment.
Reinspections after defect rectification are calculated separately.
After the developer or contractor notifies that defect rectification is complete, owners can first check the status based on the original defect list. If you book this website’s reinspection service, it is calculated at HK$2.5 per square foot of saleable area, minimum HK$1,000, charging the higher of the calculated amount or the minimum fee; this is not a free revisit included in the basic inspection fee.
Before arranging a reinspection, organise items that are completed, incomplete, and still requiring verification, and confirm the unit is accessible and equipment is operable. Reinspection is a re-check of the conditions then inspectable and does not represent a guarantee that the contractor has fixed all issues, nor does it replace further investigations involving professional engineering.
- Keep the initial defect list and rectification responses.
- Inquire about available slots after confirming the progress of rectification.
- Confirm the scope of reinspection and separate fees before booking.
Obtain a complete, comparable quotation.
When inquiring with different service providers, try to provide the same area, address, unit type, and requirements, and request that basic services and extra items be listed separately. Only comparing the advertised unit price without checking minimum charges, surcharges, and service limitations easily leads to results that appear cheap but have different actual content.
Finally, you should retain quotes and written booking confirmations, checking the date, time slot, total amount, deposit, and rescheduling arrangements. If requirements, address, or entry conditions change, reconfirm first; do not rely on old estimates. Current complete fees and booking terms can be checked on the property inspection fee page; official confirmed content takes precedence.
- Compare under the same conditions.
- Retain quotes that list items clearly.
- Reconfirm when arrangements need to change.
Separate the initial inspection, extras and reinspection
Give companies the same information and request separate lines for the base inspection, applicable surcharges, items awaiting confirmation and reinspection. Compare confirmed services only; unquoted work is not automatically free. If site conditions change, confirm any effect on the price and appointment. Use the quotation confirmed for your unit as the final reference.
FAQs
Is 340 sq. ft. definitely only charged the minimum of HK$1,400?
No. 340 sq. ft. multiplied by HK$4.5 is HK$1,530, which is higher than the HK$1,400 minimum for the 251–350 sq. ft. tier, so the basic fee is calculated at HK$1,530; extra items must still be confirmed based on actual arrangements.
Does the instant estimate figure include staircase and remote area fees?
No. The estimator provides a reference for basic property inspection fees; staircase fees, remote area surcharges, and high-pressure water jet tests approved to be done separately must be confirmed separately based on address and site conditions.
Is reinspection provided free of charge after the first property inspection?
No. Reinspection is an extra-charge service, HK$2.5 per square foot, minimum HK$1,000, charging whichever is higher. Please provide the defect rectification list and completion status, and confirm the scope and available dates.
