TL;DR: Match the specs to the listing, check battery cycles and SSD SMART, run a simple screen/keyboard/port test, and make sure the invoice lists the serial + warranty and a fit-for-purpose note. We can pre-test and set it up for you.

What to check (Stellenbosch-savvy)

1) Battery: cycles & condition

macOS:  → System Settings → General → System Report → Power → Cycle Count / Condition.
Windows: powercfg /batteryreport (Command Prompt as admin), or OEM utility.
If runtime matters (classes/edits), treat a tired pack as a consumable and negotiate.

2) Storage: SMART health

Open a SMART utility. Walk away from drives showing Caution/Bad, many reallocated/pending sectors, or NVMe media wear near end-of-life. Factor an SSD swap into price if needed.

3) Screen & cable

Show solid colours + white/black to reveal dead pixels or bleed. If the display flickers when you change lid angle, the display cable/hinge loom may be worn.

4) Keyboard/trackpad, webcam & audio

Try every key, trackpad click/gestures, webcam/mic, speakers and all ports (USB-A/C, HDMI/DP, card reader, headphone jack). Test Wi-Fi/Bluetooth briefly.

5) Charger & power budget

Confirm OEM wattage (e.g., 65 W/90 W). Under-rated or off-brand bricks cause throttling and battery drain while plugged in—budget for the correct adapter if missing.

6) Activation & locks (don’t skip)

Windows: “Windows is activated”; previous user fully signed out; BitLocker either off or recovery key provided.
macOS: Find My off; signed out of Apple ID; no MDM profiles; Activation Lock removed.
No locks? Good. If locked, request a clean handover before paying.

7) Thermals & fans

Warm is normal; searing heat or grinding fans hint at dust or paste that needs service. Not a deal-breaker—just budget a tune-up.

8) Invoice must-haves (CPA-aware)

Seller name/reg/VAT (if registered) & contact details
Date, serial number, model/spec summary
Warranty term (e.g., 3/6 months) and who to contact for claims
Returns/repair process
A short fit-for-purpose note matching your stated use (e.g., “Office, Teams/Zoom, 1080p edits”)—this anchors CPA expectations

Buying for editing or engineering? Tell the seller. Under CPA, if they confirm suitability, it should be fit for that purpose.

Where we can help (fast, local)

Pre-purchase check → Diagnostics (battery cycles, SMART, ports, quick thermals)
Move files and set up cleanly → Cloud backup setup → then Remote support session for a tidy new-laptop setup
Legal & returns policy → see our Warranty & returns page
Prefer hands-off? Drop the unit and we’ll wipe/clean install, apply updates, map OneDrive/Google Drive, and hand back a ready-to-study/work laptop.

Quick ZAR expectations (so pricing talks are sane)

Battery replacements: Windows R900–R2 200, many MacBooks R1 600–R3 500 (model-dependent)
SSD upgrade + clone: R1 400–R3 200 (+ SSD size)
Tune-up/cleanup: R650–R1 200
Clean reinstall + migration: R950–R1 600

Parts and stock vary—ask for an ETA before you commit.

Final pre-buy checklist (copy/paste)

✅ Specs match listing (CPU/RAM/SSD/screen)
✅ Battery cycles & condition acceptable
✅ SSD/HDD SMART Good
✅ Screen, keys, ports, Wi-Fi/BT OK
✅ Correct OEM charger included
✅ No activation locks (Windows/macOS)
✅ Invoice shows serial + warranty + fit-for-purpose

If any line fails, negotiate—or let us run a same/next-day pre-test so you buy with confidence in Stellenbosch.