Residential building Inspections

A Residential Building Inspection helps homeowners understand their property's condition, plan maintenance with confidence and protect the long-term value of their home.

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What Is a Residential Building Inspection?

Our Residential Building Inspection includes the same comprehensive assessment as our Pre-Purchase Building Inspection but is designed specifically for homeowners. Whether you're preparing to sell, planning renovations, maintaining an investment property, or simply want peace of mind, we'll provide a detailed assessment of your home's condition, highlighting defects, maintenance requirements, moisture concerns and areas that may require further investigation. It's a proactive way to understand your property's condition, prioritise repairs and protect the value of your home.

At Inform Building Inspections, we provide comprehensive building inspections throughout Taranaki, including New Plymouth, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, Hāwera and surrounding areas. Whether you're buying, selling or simply wanting a better understanding of your property's condition, our inspections are designed to identify visible defects, maintenance issues, moisture concerns and potential risks before they become costly repairs.

We thoroughly inspect all safely accessible areas of the property, including the roof, exterior cladding, foundations, subfloor, interior rooms, ceilings, walls, windows, doors, decks, drainage and other key building elements. Non-invasive moisture testing is carried out where appropriate to help identify signs of water ingress and weathertightness concerns.

Following the inspection, you'll receive a comprehensive, easy-to-understand report complete with colour photographs, a clear summary of significant findings, practical maintenance recommendations and advice on any areas that may require further investigation. Delivered promptly, our reports provide the clarity and confidence you need to make informed decisions about your property.

What is included in a residential building inspection?

  • 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, including:

    • Cladding type

    • Roof design

    • Deck construction

    • Flashings

    • Junction details

    • Eaves

    • Building complexity

Book Your Inspection
Book Your Inspection