Pre-purchase residential building reports

Purchase your new property with confidence. A professional pre-purchase building inspection gives you clarity, confidence, and the information needed to make a smart property decision.

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What Is a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection?

A pre-purchase building inspection is one of the most important steps when buying a property. Whether you're purchasing your first home, an investment property, or a commercial building, a professional building inspection can help you understand the condition of the property before you commit.

During the inspection, we assess all accessible areas of the property, including the roof, exterior cladding, foundations, subfloor, interior rooms, ceilings, walls, windows, doors, decks, and site drainage. Moisture testing is also carried out where appropriate to help identify signs of water ingress and weathertightness concerns.

Following the inspection, you'll receive a detailed building report outlining the property's overall condition, significant findings, maintenance recommendations, and any areas that may require further investigation. Our reports are clear, easy to understand, and delivered promptly to help you meet finance and purchase deadlines. All our reports are written to meet the lending requirements for weathertightness.

A pre-purchase building inspection provides valuable information and peace of mind, helping you make an informed decision before purchasing a property in Taranaki

At Inform Building Inspections, we provide comprehensive pre-purchase building inspections throughout Taranaki, including New Plymouth, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, Hawera, and surrounding areas. Our inspections are designed to identify visible defects, maintenance issues, moisture concerns, and potential risks that could result in costly repairs in the future.

  • We inspect the overall condition of the home's exterior, including:

    • Cladding

    • Exterior joinery

    • Decks and balconies

    • Retaining walls

    • Paths and steps

    • Fencing and gates

    • Site drainage

    • Roof condition

    • Gutters and downpipes

    • Garaging and outbuildings (where applicable)

  • Every accessible room is individually assessed, including:

    • Walls

    • Ceilings

    • Floors

    • Windows and doors

    • General wear and maintenance

    • Signs of movement or deterioration

  • Wet areas receive particular attention as they are the most common source of hidden problems.

    We inspect:

    • Showers

    • Baths

    • Toilets

    • Vanities

    • Cabinetry

    • Tapware

    • Visible plumbing

    • Sealants

    • Ventilation

    • Signs of moisture damage

  • Where appropriate we use a professional non-invasive moisture meter to identify elevated moisture readings around:

    • Windows

    • External doors

    • Bathrooms

    • Kitchens

    • Laundries

    • Areas showing signs of staining or possible leaks

    If elevated readings are detected, we explain what they may indicate and recommend the appropriate next steps.

  • For properties where direct access isn't safe or practical, we utilise drone photography to inspect roofing materials, flashings, gutters and penetrations from above.

  • Where accessible we inspect:

    • Foundations

    • Bearers and joists

    • Bracing

    • Ventilation

    • Insulation

    • Plumbing visible beneath the home

    • General condition of the subfloor

  • We assess features that may increase the risk of future weathertightness issues and our reports meet the requirements for lending, including:

    • Cladding type

    • Roof design

    • Deck construction

    • Flashings

    • Junction details

    • Eaves

    • Building complexity

What is included in a residential building inspection?

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