Consumer Build

Property Inspection Checklist

Before engaging a building surveyor(who is qualified in the building industry and can give you expert advice),carry out your own investigations. It might help you to rule out properties before getting too far through the purchase process.

It is important to be confident that the home you are looking at is structurally sound. Organise a time with the real estate agent or owner and allow a couple of hours to go through this checklist:

1. On the outside examine the general condition of the cladding, drainpipes and roof. Look for damaged paintwork, rotten wood, rust, holes, cracks and crumbling mortar, and broken roof tiles.
2. Be careful of cladding susceptible to leaking. You will need a ladder to look at the roof.
3. Check around the house to make sure the cladding is at least 225mm above the ground (grasses or garden) or 150mm from the floor level to paved surfaces. Check whether the garden may have been banked up against the house over the years.
4. Under the house, check the piles. You can check wooden piles by poking a screwdriver into the wood, just below ground level, to see if there are any soft areas. Does it smell or seem damp under the house? Look to see if there have been makeshift repairs on the piles.
5. From a ladder, look into the ceiling space. Does the header tank look secure? Does the bathroom fan vent directly into the ceiling space with no outlet for steam?
6. Inside, test the floors by jumping up and down to see if the floorboards feel springy or squeak. Does the floor feel like it is sloping? Check for cracks in the walls and windows, or doors that don’t close properly. It may be an indication of problems with the piles or settling.
7. Does the house smell damp or are there indications of dampness such as stained ceilings and walls, mould, bubbling or stained paint, bulges in the walls and rotting skirting boards?
8. Checkall the power points are working by using a power-point tester, which you can buy from a hardware store. Take note of problems with the electrical system like scorch marks on power points.
9. In the kitchen and bathrooms, check for broken tiles, damp around sinks and showers, mould and missing sealant.
10. Check that built-in appliances, for example, the dishwasher and stove, are working.
11. Turn on every tap in the house and check the water pressure and any strange noises in the plumbing. Check the age of the hot water cylinder.
12. Check for insulation where possible, for example, underfloor or in the ceiling.
13. Around the section, check the condition of fences, paving and driveways. Large trees can be a problem sending roots under the house and into drains.
14. Look over the boundary fences for any potential issues with neighbours, such as overhanging trees, car wrecking, or noisy dogs.
15. If the house was built after 1 July 1992 find out from the council if it has a Code of Compliance Certificate.
16. Get a Land Information Memorandum from your local council. From May 2007 councils will be obliged to identify, in LIM reports, properties which are or have been subject to WHRS claims from that date. Properties that have been subject to weathertightness claims through the courts or private actions do not have to be identified.
17. Contact the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service to see if a claim has ever been lodged on the house.
18. Obtain copies of the original specifications and drawings from your local authority.

If you are reasonably satisfied with your own inspection, and decide to take it to the next stage, it is recommended that you still have a professional inspection.

More help

An expanded house inspection checklist is available on consumer.org.nz- it will take you around the property point by point to see if the house suits your needs. You can print this checklist and take it with you when you are looking at homes to buy.