A viewing helps you decide whether a home might suit you. Property checks help establish what you would be buying and which questions still need an answer. Keep a simple record with four columns: the question, the document or adviser needed, who is following it up, and the decision deadline.
Ask the listing salesperson for the available property information. Give your lawyer the exact address, agreement and record of title to review, including interests and shared arrangements. A cross-lease home, unit-title apartment and fee-simple house can have different obligations. Ask what those mean for the way you intend to use the property, rather than deciding on the label alone.
Discuss which LIM and property-file information to obtain and how it should be reviewed. Make a note of extensions, decks, enclosed areas and changes of use visible at the property. Ask your advisers what documentation would establish the position; a salesperson’s brochure is not a substitute for that review.
Auckland Council’s explanation of its regional flood maps sets out how map information can support further investigation. Regional mapping does not establish the exact effect on a particular building. Where a question matters to your decision, obtain address-specific advice and confirm insurance availability early.
An appropriate independent building inspection can help you understand condition and maintenance. Ask about the scope, access limitations and any specialist follow-up. Compare the findings with your budget and appetite for work. For a coastal property, discuss exposed surfaces and maintenance; for a unit-title property, review the relevant body-corporate information with your adviser.
Consumer Protection explains checks before making an offer. Use professional reports to answer the specific questions raised by the property, not as a collection of paperwork you never discuss.
Work backwards from the sale process and any proposed condition dates. Ask your lawyer what must be completed before signing or bidding and what can properly be addressed by a condition. If a report raises a concern, clarify the next step before the deadline. Do not assume an unresolved question gives you an automatic right to withdraw.
Use our open-home checklist, read about making an offer or return to the buying guide. Contact the listing salesperson about access and available documents; use your independent advisers to assess them.