Pre-Purchase Inspection

Make your decision to buy with confidence

Buying a home or rental property can be stressful, and it is often a person’s largest financial investment. At Smart we hope to ease any stress by ensuring your decision to buy is an informed one based on independent and objective professional advice.

Includes:

  1. Visual inspection carried out on both the interior and exterior of the property
  2. Thermal imaging and moisture detection
  3. Weathertightness Risk Assessment
  4. Comprehensive written report provided within 24-48 hours (photos included)
  5. Follow-up discussion if required

Why choose Smart?

  • The business is small but the attention to detail is high
  • Reports are comprehensive yet easy to read
  • The team is conscientious and pro-active with client satisfaction being first and foremost
  • The business is well established and has been operating in Queenstown since 2009
  • Their inspector is a:   Weathertightness Specialist, Licensed Building Practitioner,  Trade Certified Builder with over 25 years experience on the tools, a Certified Infrared Thermographer and an Executive Committee Member of the New Zealand Institute of Building Inspectors
  • The company is adequately insured

What we check (where applicable)

(kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, floors, fixtures, fittings and workmanship

  • sloping, bouncy or water stained floors
  • bowing or cracking to the wall or ceiling linings?
  • operation of windows and doors
  • odours that may indicate the presence of mould, fungi, or excessive condensation

(cladding, detailing, joinery, flashings, downpipes and workmanship)

  • cladding structure and general condition
  • peeling or bubbling paint?
  • evidence of rot, damage to the cladding, window sills, or fascias
  • missing or incorrectly installed flashings
  • cracks, gaps, penetrations and any unsealed areas
  • joinery (glazing beads, mitre joins, glazing, flashings)
  • weathertightness risk assessment

If there is a subfloor space, we will check for…

  • Obvious cracks or signs of movement
  • Ground conditions
  • Dampness
  • Ventilation
  • Insulation
  • Damage, rot
  • Missing framing or flooring
  • Plumbing leaks
  • penetrations
  • flashings
  • chimney / flue
  • gutters
  • existence of rust
  • damage
  • general workmanship
  • general condition
  • advice on whether consideration should be given to replacement versus repair
  • structure
  • extractor systems, ducting
  • damage, rot or concern in relation to structural support
  • evidence of dampness or leaking
  • plumbing and electrical (if visible)
  • insulation
  • pests / borer
  • general condition of driveway, paths and steps
  • ground levels and clearance in relation to the exterior cladding
  • de-tached sheds, workshops, garages
  • retaining walls and fencing
  • evidence of any flooding or excessive water pooling, concern in relation to drainage
  • safety hazards
  • operation of light switches to ascertain if any obvious faults exist when turned off/on
  • visual assessment of power points/face plates (not operational condition)
  • exposed or damaged wires
  • Wiring type e.g. modern TPS, old wiring or conduit
  • obvious safety hazards
  • water pressure
  • unusual noises or faults when running taps
  • evidence of blocked wastes
  • obvious leaks or evidence of leaking around showers, laundry tubs, toilets
  • what type of plumbing if visible e.g. dux quest, copper, plastic, galvanised
  • evidence of rats, mice, ants, wood boring insects, cockroaches, birds or wasps
  • signs of an infestation or damage
  • fire alarms, security locks, burglar alarms
  • restrictors on windows or doors where a potential fall hazard exists
  • existence or lack of safety glass in areas where required
  • hand rails and barriers
  • staircases

Workmanship is not considered by the Council unless it is so bad that it affects the buildings ability to comply with the Building Code.  The quality of workmanship can be a good indicator of future performance.  If our inspector feels the quality of workmanship is below an acceptable industry standard and may cause or is likely to cause a problem, he will let you know.

Both a thermal imaging camera and a capacitance moisture meter are used in conjunction with each other throughout the dwelling to ascertain if any excessive moisture exists. A thermal imaging camera is used in ‘realtime’ mode and images are only taken, recorded and included in a report in the instance of an anomaly being identified.

Limitations can occur as moisture can only be detected if it is present. If weather conditions have been dry leading up to an inspection, it is possible that any moisture that is usually present during cooler or wetter months may have dried out.

It is important to understand that thermal imaging and moisture detection does not guarantee that no moisture exists, however when operated by a trained and experienced inspector, both a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter are fantastic tools that help minimise your risk.

In the event that excessive moisture is detected, your inspector will provide an opinion in terms of whether a further invasive investigation is required.

“Weathertightness” generally relates to properties built between 1990 and 2005 regardless of the cladding type.  While generally associated with “monolithic” claddings, other significant contributory factors of risk or failure can also be the design, location, workmanship and detailing.

Moisture detection equipment is a valuable tool to help determine whether there may be any moisture ingress detectable at the time of the inspection.  However, nil indication of moisture ingress is not a nil indication of known weather tightness risks, or even moisture ingress.  We will tell you of any known weathertightness risks with the property so that you can make an informed decision about the property.

A suitably well trained inspector should know the clues and risk details to look for and be able to advise you of them.

You should know whether there are any known weathertightness risks with the property you are considering so that you can make an informed decision about the risk you may or may not be taking on.

I wanted to say a big thank you for your help, I appreciate the effort you made to get the report to us in time for our conditional date.  The vendors have agreed to fix the issues found by Mark so we feel your report has paid for itself and I will definitely be recommending your services to others”.

Jackie Connaghan, Queenstown