Articles

Many people think that mould in a house is just something you have to put up with. In some cases, depending on its location, people don’t even realise they have mould in their house. And even if they do, they don’t know how to find the cause. But having mould in your house can a sign or a more serious underlying issue and so you should investigate. Several things can cause mould to appear. The most obvious is excess condensation which can appear on windows and walls of houses that are not ... Read More

Before you commit to buying a new property, you should get a thorough pre-purchase property inspection. There is now a standard building report clause in most sale and purchase agreements and inspections give you peace of mind. Your inspection should be carried out by a registered building inspector who has plenty of experience doing inspections, not just building work. They will have the necessary knowledge and tools like thermal image moisture testing to ensure your inspection is carried out ... Read More

Buying your first home can be a daunting task, especially if you are in a new area or don’t know much about the process. Luckily there are many professionals out there who can supply advice and information for first home buyers. Three professionals first home buyers need on their team A good financial advisor or mortgage brokerUnless you can afford to buy outright with cash, the chances are you will need a mortgage. A good advisor will be able to find you a good deal on a mortgage and also ... Read More

To try and improve the warmth and dryness of rented homes in New Zealand insulation in a rental property will be compulsory from July 2019. Landlords already need to produce insulation statements for rental properties. But the 2019 changes will increase the requirements.What an insulation statement covers Currently, any rental agreements signed after July 2016 should include an insulation statement. This tells a tenant:whether there is insulation where it is - eg in ceilings, ... Read More

While property inspections are more often associated with home buyers, building inspections for landlords can also be important They are also useful to help you with rental property maintenance As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring that your property is safe for tenants and a liveable building. While your tenants can carry out some minor repairs such as replacing lightbulbs, you are responsible for any other maintenance.As a landlord you should be keeping on top of these areas for ... Read More

Once you’ve organised an inspection for a property you are planning to buy you will be provided with a pre-purchase building report. The report will help you decide whether to go ahead with the purchase and whether there is anything you need to negotiate with the vendors before agreeing to the sale.  Read our article Potential deal-breakers a pre-purchase property inspection might highlight.How a pre-purchase building report is laid out In most cases, you will receive a written pre-purchase ... Read More

When you buy a new house, your sale and purchase agreement is likely to include a standard building report clause to arrange builders inspection also known as a pre-purchase inspection. These inspections check the condition of the house and give you the facts before you finalise the sale.What to expect from a builders inspection? The idea of getting a whole house checked over can be daunting but the process is usually fairly straight forward. Here are the answers to some common questions ... Read More

If you are planning on buying a house only to rent it out, you might think that a building inspection isn’t necessary. However, building inspections for landlords can play a useful part in maintaining your property portfolio. Here are three situations where building inspections for landlords could be helpful 1.Before buying a new propertyIf you are buying an investment property you want it to be liveable so you attract tenants. You also don’t want any hidden issues causing problems further ... Read More

If your property is up for sale, you might expect a building report to be done before completion. Usually, the buyer will arrange and pay for a building inspection. However, it is also possible for you, as the property owner, to get a vendor's building report done.Benefits of getting a vendor's building report There are two main benefits of getting a building inspection done rather than waiting for the buyer to do it. 1. It makes you look transparent If you already have a building report ... Read More

If you are buying a house get a pre-purchase building report can help you identify any issues before you commit to a sale.What happens when you book a building report?The building inspector will arrange a time to visit the property needing inspection. The inspector will check things like the condition of the exterior and interior. They will look for leaks or other possible issues. This includes any extra buildings such as garages. Normally the inspection is a visual one and any ... Read More