A pre-purchase/condition report involves the inspection of residential properties to identify and report on the condition of components, finishes, structure, systems and services of a property, as well as identifying defects and problems that might be present in the following areas:
- Grounds: fences, drives, paths, retaining walls, clothes line.
- Out buildings: garages, sheds, glasshouses and sleep outs.
- Exterior: cladding systems, weathertightness, foundations, windows, doors and timber finishings.
- Interior: inspect each room to identify condition of floor, walls and ceiling, along with the presence of services and systems.
- Under floor area: foundations, piles, timber framing, insulation, ventilation and ground moisture.
- Roof space: structure, insulation, underside of roofing.
- Roof: roofing materials, gutters and chimneys.
- Services: plumbing, drainage, electrical and other specialist services.
Why do I need one?
A pre-purchase/condition report, which can also be known as a builders report, are produced for clients involved in the sale and purchase of properties. More often than not, your bank will require one when you're going to purchase a property. This protects them when it comes to lending you money, as they want to know they aren't lending on an incredibly risky property. These reports can also be used to assess maintenance requirements of buildings and to determine if more detailed destructive investigations are required.
What does it involve?
Your pre-purchase/condition reports involve non-destructive investigations, and rely heavily on the knowledge, training and experience of the inspector to accurately identify any hidden faults, defects and compliance related anomalies that may exist. Paul at QSPlus is trained in both international and New Zealand building inspector standards, so you can rest assured you're getting sound advice!
To undertake this work, the Building Inspector must, therefore, be fully aware of the increasingly complex types of dwellings being built in New Zealand, and understand the inherent risks associated with that complexity.
What does a building inspector need to know?
They require an intimate knowledge of the building products, systems, design techniques and industry standards that are being used in New Zealand, as well as having a sound knowledge of the local environment in which the building is situated. Local conditions, such as wind, earthquake risk, geothermal situations and coastal areas can have a marked effect on the performance of a building.
Quantity Vs. Quality
Not all home inspection reports are the same. Make sure you do your homework around the qualifications of the report providers, whether the bank accepts their reports, and how in-depth their reports go - they may be the cheapest report provider, but this could mean they're doing a 'visual only' and they won't find the hidden problems. There's nothing worse than having important property details skipped over when you go to sell - more than likely the new buyer will get a building report that will pick these up, and could set you back; you may have to spend a lot of money on reparations, or the sale may fall through.
Get in touch with us for a free quote, a QSPlus sample report, or let us know how we can give you peace of mind you're making the right buying decision!
