Frequently Asked Questions

The Far North Inspection report will cover:

Compliant with the NZ standard – NZS4306:2005

Exterior:

• Subfloor

• Foundations, Joists, Bearers etc.

• Insulations & Ventilation

• External Structure & Cladding

• Roof, Flashings & Stormwater

• External Joinery

• Drainage

• Decks & Patios, etc.

Interior:

• Floors, Walls & Ceilings

• Internal Door Operation & Hardware

• Window/door Operation & Hardware

• Bathroom & Laundry Fittings & Cabinetry

• Ceiling Cavity & insulation

• Hot Water Storage Cylinders

• Fireplace Condition

• Internal Stairs & Handrails

• Garage Door Operation

No. The building inspector, will not pass or fail a property, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what components and systems may need repair or replacement.

Consequently, the inspection is not an appraisal of market value nor a council inspection, which verifies local code compliance, but an examination of the current condition of a house or commercial building.

Having an inspection carried out by Far North Inspections prior to listing a property can save any surprises that may arrive when prospective buyers come to inspect. Our inspectors can pick up on issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. This gives the seller the opportunity to understand the true condition of their home and rectify any issues that might reduce the sale price.

No house is perfect. If the inspector identifies problems, it doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t buy the property, only that you will know in advance what to expect and attend to and possibly have the opportunity to obtain outside quotes for the work. Based on our finding a vendor may consider making the necessary repairs or negotiate accordingly. So if your budget is tight or if you don’t want to become involved in future repair work, this information will be important to you.

Definitely! Now you can complete your purchase with peace of mind about the condition of the property and its systems. You may have learned a few things about your property from the survey report, and will want to keep that information for your future reference. Above all, you can rest assured that you are making a well-informed purchase decision and that you will be able to enjoy or occupy your new home or building the way you want.

Each city or district council holds a considerable amount of information about each property in its area. For a fee they can print out information from their files. If there are any problems or unusual and important features, these should show up. For instance, the LIM might reveal the property is subject to flooding, or contains a council drain which may not be built over, or a protected tree or building. It should also help you to figure out how the district plan applies to the site. Sometimes the council will also supply pages of area plans showing the known stormwater and sewage drains, zoning and other details.

The LIM will also identify whether building consents have been taken out for building work and whether code compliance certificates have been issued for that work. Frequently alterations have been done to older houses, including landscaping, without council knowledge, so sometimes these things don’t show up on the LIM. This means a LIM that shows no problems may be giving you a false sense of security.

NOTE: You can visit the council offices and look at the property file over the counter. After sifting through everything, the relevant material can be photocopied or the entire file provided on a CD. This will provide a great deal more information than is contained in the LIM. Ideally, if you have time, consult your surveyor first as to what to look for and get the information to him before the inspection.

Reports are emailed as a PDF report in full colour with photos. Clients can get a hard copy of the report printed from places like Warehouse Stationery.