Star Tech: Dubai startup uses world-first tech to reveal true condition of homes

Property Check is the brainchild of two Dubai-based entrepreneurs, Liam Ketley and Michael Widgery, who are both ex-advertising agency executives. Widgery also runs another Dubai-based business called Grout King. Their focus for Property Check is delivering quality solutions with advanced knowledge but simple advice, with the customer in mind to bring long-term benefits.

Property Check was officially launched in summer 2022, after 18 months of extensive research, pilot studies and trials. The co-founders were determined to ensure the product was perfect before going to market in July this year.

Property Check uses world-first technology, state-of-the-art equipment and common sense to show the true condition of homes for buyers, renters, landlords and agents.

"Our digital Property Report Cards, available nowhere else in the world, are fully-filterable, fully-interactive and use everyday language. Our aim is to ensure that we use a language that grandmothers could understand and take action," said Ketley.

Industry-leading technology like thermal imaging, endoscopic cameras and moisture meters enable the team to see things people can't see with the naked eye. They reveal what's really going on behind the walls, above the ceilings or beneath the floors. It's like an MRI scan for homes, with a fixed price of Dh999 regardless of the size of the apartment or villa.

The process is built around convenience and simplicity for the customer: easy to book online or by phone, with a UAE tailor made digital report delivered within 24 hours. In addition, there is no need to be at home while the inspection is being carried out, meaning no disruption for our busy customers.

How does it save money for its end users/customers?

The fixed price of Dh999 is a small investment compared to potential bills – and time-consuming, stressful repairs – resulting from faults in the home. More importantly, Property Check can unveil potential safety issues.

Property Check was born from personal experience: when Ketley moved into his new apartment two years ago, little did he know of the problems that awaited him. A day after moving in, his water tank burst and flooded the apartment. A pre-inspection would have revealed a fault that would have cost around Dh50 to fix; instead the job cost more than Dh5,000 – and he had no access to his bathroom for two weeks.

"We recently found poorly-sealed windows in a customer's home: not a danger, but a problem that would add to her AC (air conditioning) bill each month. Issues like these are something customers would have had no clue about without a pre-rental inspection," Widgery said.

"On average, inspectors find around 400 issues – some cosmetic, others more serious – per check. If it's not perfect, we report it," he added.

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