Wellington Property Pre Purchase Building Reports
Your Report
Your report starts at the front gate and checks the fences, grounds, retaining walls, and out buildings. It checks the exterior and interior of the building, under the floor and in the roof space. The report checks the carpentry and structural parts of the building and all the sub trades. E.g. Painting and decorating, electrical, drainage, gasfitting, roofing, spouting, plumbing. It also checks things like recent work and things that may affect the property such as large trees on the neighbours land. It is a report looking for fault.
If the customer requires an engineers report on retaining walls over 1.5m high we hire an engineer for this if required. The engineers fee is in addition to the report how ever this is not common.
Why Get a Report?
Avoid expensive surprises. A very good investment. Takes the emotion out of buying. It is rare for the report to cost anything as there is always something that can be fixed or deducted from the sale price. Usually it is a lot more than the cost of the report.
Safe guard your self from when you want to sell the property. ie You will not be buying problems that you will have to try and sell to someone else who may get a report and start bargaining with you.
What the Real Estate Agents Say
“The most thorough building report we have seen.”
” Speeded the sale as it removed doubt”
” Did not dwell on the trivia as other reports do”
Who does the report and what are their qualifications?
Our reports are not Builders reports. As no one person or firm does all aspects of building and builders generally do not want to do pre purchase reports and do not want to put them in writing or take responsibility for them. A Builder generally looks at the carpentry and not all the other trades used in building construction.
The inspectors who undertake the reports are qualified and experienced in the sub rades. There are only four building trades that are licensed in New Zealand under an Act of Parliament. They are Electrical, Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying.
Contrary to popular belief Registered Builder is not one of them. Registered Builder refers to membership of an association of the Master Builders and does not imply any qualification as none is required to be a builder. Any one can build buildings and many home owners do.
Our people are Licensed in Plumbing, Electrical, Drainage, and Gasfitting and have experience in carpentry and Building since January 1977.
What is not in the report
- Trivia
If we leave out a spot of flaky paint or a crack in a light switch do not be alarmed, you can not go into a property bargaining situation with faults worth $50. If the crack is in a retaining wall, or the roof is had it, that is different we will list that and even recommend an engineer if it is in a large structural wall. - What we cannot see
This report is based on what can be visually seen at the date of the report. No testing is carried out or wall linings removed. This report does not cover what is under ground. No outstanding legal or Local Authority matters are covered.
The building is judged on the basis of the Acts, Regulations, bylaws, installation instructions that were in force at the time that the building was erected or services installed.
Not every fault will be listed if we believe it is of an insignificant nature. This report does not cover valuation, land surveying, land geology. This report is essentially a list of faults that can visibly be seen. There are faults that are not possible to see if it has been raining such as dampness outside. Our reports are done according the NZ Standard on Building Reports.
After an inspection is done
We will call you to discuss the property and go over any problems found so that you can ask questions. The report (two copies) is them sent along with the invoice.
Are we a member of any building inspectors institute?
No, we rely on formal qualifications in licensed trades under an Act of Parliament.
We see little value in belonging to an institute that allows working for Land Agents who have a conflict of interest in a report that is looking for fault. A land Agent represents the seller. Who represents you.?
We will also not belong to an Inspection Institute that does not insist on formal qualifications. Since most of the NZ institutes do not pass our ethics test we will not join them.
In Summary
In summary you will find our reports fair and do not dwell on the trivial. It is hard for seller and the buyer to be objective due to the emotions involved in the purchase of your home.
