Learning about the property

Look at what the roof is made of and find out what you would need to do to maintain it. Depending on how old the house is, you should find out when the roof was last resurfaced and check if anything is set into it, such as vent pipes, chimneys and skylights. These require flashings that need to be maintained regularly to avoid leaks.

Look out for:

• tall, unbraced chimneys made from brick or concrete - these are usually found in houses built before the 1970s
• cracks in the chimney, leaning and twisting of the chimney, loose or broken bricks, loose masonry or plaster
• heavier style roof tiles made from concrete, terracotta or slate that are not fixed to the supporting framing.

If a property has solid, well-built foundations, it will be better at withstanding the impact of events like earthquakes and storms.

Look out for:

• loose, rusted or broken connections between the joists, bearers and piles - the connections should be in good condition
• piles that have been exposed by ground movement or are showing signs of degradation such as rot or borer in timber piles or cracking or crumbling for concrete piles
• piles standing straight so they support the bearers evenly - they should be well braced, with diagonal timber braces between the piles and bearers or joists.

Retaining walls are generally expensive and require maintenance. They can also cause issues such as slips if they are close to the house. 

Look out for:

• cracks, bowing, bulging, tilting or leaning and blocked weep holes in retaining walls - these could mean there’s a problem that needs to be investigated by a geotechnical engineer
• overland drainage that directs stormwater into and over the retaining wall, because this will put pressure on the wall
• retaining walls that have no building consent, especially if they’re supporting land that has a building on it - depending on a wall’s age and size, local council property files may tell you whether it has appropriate consents
• any large soil banks without a retaining wall - you can get advice from a geotechnical engineer about whether a retaining wall is needed.

Electrical installations can age and become overloaded, particularly in older homes where the wiring may not have been designed for the number of electrical appliances we use today. If you have any concerns about the electrical installations, we recommend you obtain an electrical report from a registered electrical worker(external link).

Look out for:

• plugs and sockets that are hot to the touch or have brown scorch marks on them
• fuses that blow and circuit breakers that trip for no reason
• flickering lights
• porcelain fuses in the fusebox, which indicate older wiring - old wiring can be a concern because the insulation may break off leaving copper wire exposed which can lead to fire and electrocution. 

Check the type of water piping in the house if it was built in the 1970s, 1980s or early 1990s. Some brands of pipe and joints used during these decades have a limited life span of up to 30 years, for example Dux Quest piping. This piping can fail, causing expensive leak damage and replacement costs. 

Good quality insulation helps keep the heat in during winter and out during summer. This makes a house easier and cheaper to heat properly and more comfortable and healthy to live in. Check the insulation the property has - the priority is insulation in the ceiling and under the floor, followed by wall insulation.

Some local councils offer property owners loans to install insulation. These loans are paid off through the property owner’s rates bill so may pass on to the buyer when the property settles. Check with the agent whether the owner has used a council scheme to install insulation. This may also be noted in the council records or land information memorandum (LIM).  The council will also be able to let you know what the balance of the loan is.

To find out more about what makes a house energy efficient visit EnergyWise(external link).

If the property has been renovated, ask how long ago the work was done and have a professional assess the quality of the work and materials used. Check if the renovations received any required council consent. Compare the renovations with the consents listed in the LIM. Some councils also make this information available on their websites.

Look out for signs such as mould, soft flooring or poor-quality workmanship or materials, which could indicate poor-quality renovations that may lead to future issues. 

Look at the trees around the property to identify any potential issues before you buy.

Look out for:

• any protected trees, which should be listed in the LIM - you’ll need resource consent to remove, prune or carry out construction work near a tree that’s protected even if it’s on your property
• tree roots near the house which can cause damage to foundations, pipes, retaining walls, paths and driveways
• overhanging branches which may fall on the house and can drop leaves that block gutters
• deciduous trees if you're looking at houses in winter, which may block a view or sun in summer when they’re covered in leaves
• any trees that could interfere with power lines as property owners have legal obligations in relation to their trees and power lines - read more here(external link).

Boundary fences are generally owned equally between two neighbours under the Fencing Act 1978. It doesn’t matter which property the fence is on, usually, both neighbours are responsible for it.

When purchasing a property, check out the condition of the fences, especially boundary fences. Ask about the neighbours – an absentee owner may not be interested in fixing a broken fence although they may be liable for half the cost of repairs regardless. If a fence is poorly maintained and falls down, it may not be covered by insurance.

Check the drainage, especially if the house is on a downward slope where water can flow onto the property. This can be an issue during downpours if there is a lack of drainage or waterproofing to the house.

Knowing the accurate floor area may be important when securing a loan, arranging insurance, and just knowing there is space for your belongings.

It’s a good idea to take measurements to check that the stated floor area is correct. Also check that the listed floor area includes the garage (attached or detached), balconies or decks, any outbuildings and recent renovations.

You can check the floor area from:

• council files
• online property valuation sites
• your property inspection report.

If you have concerns or questions around the boundary lines of a property you can ask the agent what information the vendor has about the boundary, have the property surveyed by a registered surveyor, talk to your lawyer, check the local council files (or LIM), or check with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)(external link).

Boundary pegs, fences, and roads and can’t always be trusted as boundary markers as they may have been removed, covered or shifted over time.

You can find a registered surveyor at the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors (NZIBS)(external link).

Over time wooden structures and framing can become susceptible to borer infestations, which can affect the overall structural integrity of a home.

Borer are small brown beetles whose larvae spend 2 to 4 years eating their way through soft timbers in floorboards, timber house piles, weatherboards, and timber furniture, before emerging through small flight holes.

There can be different signs based on the type of wood in your home. Some types of borer prefer untreated wood and, softwood (pine, spruce, cedar), while others prefer hardwood (oak, ash, mahogany).

The most common signs of borer are:

• holes in timber — round or oval shaped
• borer dust — visible dust below holes caused by exiting borer
• weak and damaged floorboards — creaking, crumbling corners and edges, and in extreme cases rotting
• tunnels in the wood — these can be difficult to spot because they tend to be inside the wood
• borer beetles — found near their holes, windowsills, and infested timber in summer.

If you are getting a building inspection, make sure the inspection includes looking for borer — some building inspectors exclude liability for borer. If you suspect borer are present (particularly in older homes), make sure you have hired an inspector who will look for it.