The time has finally come to purchase your dream home. An essential part of that process is ensuring your new home won’t come with surprise fixes – and that’s exactly what a pre-purchase inspection report is for. It takes a professional eye to spot defects lying beneath the surface, big or small. These defects can play a part in your offer price and the decision to go through with the purchase.

By enlisting the help of a qualified building inspector, you can rest assured your dream house is precisely that. Below, we dive into the deeper details of pre-purchase building inspections, what they look for and how to use one to your advantage.

What is a pre-purchase building inspection?

 

A pre-purchase building inspection takes the guesswork out of buying a house. A qualified inspector will come to the property and thoroughly examine the building and site features to identify any structural issues, among other things. After the inspection, you’ll receive a written report detailing the inspector’s findings, which you can then use to decide to go through with the home sale.

Is a property inspection required?

In short, pre-purchase building inspections are not required to purchase a house. However, they are highly recommended by banks and mortgage lenders, especially if the house is in a flood zone. Even if you’re buying a house that’s only a few years old, it’s always good to have a pre-purchase inspection to avoid unexpected costly repairs.

How much should I pay for a house inspection Auckland?

A quality building inspector in New Zealand will cost between $400 and $800 for a full comprehensive building report. However, it’s important never to choose a building inspector solely based on their price. When shopping around for a building inspector, you’ll want to compare what’s included in the report, how experienced the inspector is, and their reputation in the industry. A few hundred extra dollars to hire someone you trust is a small price to pay to know you’re buying a safe and quality home.

What can I expect a building inspector to check?

The time has arrived for your home inspection; here’s what your qualified inspector will be looking at:

1. Home structure

Ensuring your home has good structure is essential, and overlooked structural damage can lead to significant construction work and a massive bill. Your inspector will check that the home’s foundation, joints, beams and trusses are all up to code and do not have any defects.

2. Overal safety of home

Above all, you want the peace of mind that the home you’re buying is safe. A building inspector will check for asbestos and other dangerous materials and will check for cracked walls, an unstable foundation, fire hazards, and so forth. It’s easy to overlook minor annoyances when you’re excited about a house, so getting a building inspector is essential to ensure small problems don’t turn into something more.

4. Inspect site features

It’s not just the inside and structure of your house your home inspector will check out. They’ll also look at the yard, any retaining walls, fences, site drainage and even smaller things like clotheslines. Often overlooked, your homes outside areas can rack up a hefty bill if there are underlying issues.

5. Review of necessary repairs

Once the building inspector has completed his view of the property, they’ll be able to tell you which repairs will need to be done immediately and what repairs you’re looking at further down the line. You’ll then be able to get quotes and budgets for repairs, and as a result, you can make an informed decision on whether to buy the home.

How long does a builders inspection take?

You may be surprised to learn that a pre-purchase building inspection only takes around two hours to complete, depending on the size of your home and yard. Once the inspection is complete, expect to wait 24 to 48 hours for a report. Keep in mind that good building inspectors can be booked a few days to a few weeks out, so it’s best to schedule your inspection as soon as you know you’ll need one.

What to do after receiving building reports?

Firstly, it’s important to note that it’s rare for a second-hand home to have a spotless report. Some issues you may have already been made aware of, and others may come as a surprise. Either way, just because there are issues with the house doesn’t mean you should cancel the sale. Instead, you should compare the cost of expected fixes with the house’s asking price and use them as bargaining tools.

As well as that, you should also consider which items will need to be fixed before you move in and which issues are just things to keep an eye on. Finally, you should decide if there are any major issues or safety hazards that result in a deal-breaker.

 

Choosing your building inspector

Hopefully, by now, you see a building inspector is a must-do before buying a home – so the hunt for a building inspector begins. Many homebuyers don’t realise that the property inspection industry is unregulated in New Zealand. Untrained and unqualified inspectors often charge less but may cost you significant money further down the line if they miss hidden defects.

When choosing your building inspector, look for someone with extensive building experience and property inspection experience. Rob Cane at Fairview Building Inspections has over 30 years of experience in building and property inspections. You can trust Rob to write a comprehensive building report, ensure you understand every word of it and how it could affect you in the short and long term. Contact Rob and his team today, and they’ll answer all your questions and get your house inspection started.