FAQs

What areas of the country do you cover?

I am now based in the Buller region. I can cover Greymouth, Westport, Reefton, Murchison and parts between.

Who Pays – buyer or seller?

A potential purchaser should ideally organise and pay for their own Property Inspection & Report to avoid any conflict of interest, however when I produce reports for the property seller, I do my best to remain impartial. I believe in the transparency of the sale and purchase process and full disclosure of any issues involved.

Can I (as the client) attend the inspection?

Yes, I am happy for you to make a time toward the end of my inspection period, to meet me and ask any questions you may have about the property, its condition, maintenance items and timeframes, and potential upgrade possibilities.

What does a Property Inspection & Report cover?

I will separately describe the house, its construction, its services and its general condition. Note that the 'condition' should be taken in context with the age of the house and the Building Code when it was built. I also include a 'Healthy Home' assessment.

Finally, I will identify and note any specific faults. I will take photos of parts of the house I consider relevant, some of which will appear in the report, but all the photos will be made available to you.

In general terms, these are the items we cover:

The house is our main focus:

Foundations - if possible I check the piles and sub-floor under the house
Exterior cladding and weather tightness
Roof & roof space - for evidence of leaks, rodents, and condition of plumbing, wiring and insulation
Floors
Walls & ceilings
Windows
Doors
Plumbing
Spouting & downpipes
Sewer & storm-water
Heating & ventilation
Insulation

I also mention the following, and will take special note if specifically asked:

Exterior buildings – garage, sleep-out etc.
Patios and decks
Retaining walls
Paths and driveways

What does a Property Inspection & Report NOT cover?

My reports are visual and non-invasive. As such I rely on my knowledge and experience of the many types and ages of buildings I have worked on over the last 35 years, to determine whether there is the possibility of problems occurring where they can't be seen. If that possibility exists, or if I am looking at an issue beyond the scope of my own expertise, then I will recommend appropriate further reports.

These might include:

Structural Engineer
Geotech engineering
Electrical Report
Plumbing Report
Sewer & Storm-water video cam