Being the single biggest investment most of us make, an investment in property is one we should all take very seriously. However, we are all guilty of not giving our properties the due care and attention that this level of financial investment truly deserves. For example, when was the last time you had your property inspected by a professional experienced tradesman?We are all very disciplined when it comes to our cars, having them regularly serviced, taking them for their annual MOT/inspection, replacing the tires and brakes when they show signs of being worn. Yet a car costs significantly less than a property.Similarly to cars, properties should be regularly checked by a trained expert, a professional experienced tradesman, someone who can spot a problem before it gets out of hand. It’s all well and good having someone carry out a quick property inspection once a week/month, checking to make sure the place isn’t flooded, or hasn’t been broken into, this is a useful service.However, one should not rely on this type of service when it comes to checking to see if the property has developed any new patches of mold, where a far more proactive approach would be to look for the actual cause of the mold, before it appears. After all, we don’t wait for the car brakes to fail before replacing them. This type of proactive approach can be achieved with a simple annual property MOT, carried out by a professional, experienced tradesman.Such problems as mold and damp patches are very common within properties in Portugal, and can often be avoided with the right level of care and attention, particularly to the outside of the property, which may seem odd given that the damp or mold appears on the inside of the property. However, the cause is often due to poor or lack of good regular maintenance to the outside of the property.Properties here in Portugal have to put up with the baking hot summer temperatures as well as the cold, wet, humid and sometimes torrential rain during the winter months. This vast extreme from summer to winter means the materials that go into building a property in Portugal must be able to expand and contract more so than a property, say in the UK or Ireland.This movement, or expansion and contraction often goes unnoticed due to the absence of an annual spot check or property MOT by an experienced professional tradesman. When not picked up early enough, what starts out as a relatively small problem affecting only the outside of the property, will inevitably result in those ghastly unwanted mold and damp patches that will appear one to two years down the line inside the property, delivering with it a bigger problem and a much more costly repair bill.In addition to the exterior of your property, there are many things within the property to keep a check on, such as air conditioning units, which should be cleaned once or twice a year, depending on usage. If ignored or neglected, air-con units will begin to work inefficiently, causing a greater level of wear and tear, costing more money to run to heat and cool the property and ultimately developing a shorter lifetime.Properties with wood burning stoves should also ensure that the chimney is regularly swept, again depending on usage, but this is a job that really should be done annually.For peace of mind consider consulting a reputable and experienced property maintenance company who can carry out a Property M.O.T. service to ensure your property receives the right level of care and attention and protect you against any nasty, costly surprises that could otherwise be round the corner.