When it comes to purchasing a house in New Zealand, or even building a new one, one of the most important people that you are going to need to deal with is a building inspector. On this page I want to run you through a couple of reasons as to why you will need to work with one if you wish to ensure that absolutely everything goes to plan.
Firstly, I want to take a little look at why you would use a building inspector if you are building a new house. To put it bluntly it is because it is a legal requirement. It doesn’t matter where you are located in New Zealand the local government wants to know that you are building a home which is safe to live in. They will carry out periodical checks. This includes checking the electrics in the house, any gas installations and plumbing installations. Basically they want to make sure that it means local building regulations before you receive your Code Compliance Certificate.
Now, let’s look at the main reason why you would use a building inspector if you are purchasing a new property. Their job will be to look over the property and inspect it for any problems that may need to be fixed now or a little later on down the line. Yes, you will need to pay for a building inspector but they are honestly worth their weight in gold, even if they unearth just one or two problems. If you are trying to obtain a mortgage then it is likely that a stipulation of you obtaining that mortgage will be that you have the property inspected beforehand by a building inspector to ensure that there are no problems with it. If there are, then they will have to be dealt with beforehand, or your mortgage provider may not even end up loaning you the money that you need!
So how can you get hold of a building inspector? Well, if you are building a brand new home then after completion of the build, a final building inspection will need to be carried out by the Building Consent Authority. If you are interested in how the building process works, check this out. It outlines the various steps involved in a really simple and concise manner. If you are searching for a building inspector to take a little look at a property that you are considering buying, then a quick Google search or a flick through the telephone directory should help you locate one. I do suggest that you read a couple of reviews online before you take the plunge and hire one though!
Remember, it is not a legal requirement to hire a building inspector if you are buying a home, but it is strongly suggested. If you are working with a company that is providing you with a loan to buy your home then it is likely they may not provide you with a loan until your building has had an inspection carried out. Plus, you would rather find out if something major needs work in your potential new home before buying it, rather than dealing with the consequences later on.
