Confirm the scope and the person carrying it out
REA’s Settled guidance recommends choosing an inspector with appropriate experience and professional indemnity insurance, and asking about the New Zealand property inspection standard. Ask for the service terms before booking so you can understand the inspection and the report you will receive.
Explain whether this is a pre-purchase, pre-sale or home-condition enquiry. If you need a report for a lender or another organisation, check its requirements first. The name “building report” alone does not establish whether a particular service will be accepted. Ask the provider directly about qualifications, insurance, reporting scope and any exclusions that matter to your decision.
Prepare the property information and access
For a TrickyBuilds residential report enquiry, provide the address, estimated total floor area, number of storeys and the report format you want. Add the inspection purpose and any concerns you already know about. Mention an attached garage or an access problem when checking the scope.
Arrange permission with the owner or agent and confirm how the inspector will enter. Tell the provider about locked areas, pets, stored items or tenants who need notice. An inspection appointment and the time needed to receive the report are separate parts of your plan. Discuss your deadline before paying if timing affects a purchase decision.
Understand the limits of a visual service
TrickyBuilds’ standard residential report is based on safely accessible, visible areas. It does not include opening walls, lifting fixed finishes or certifying hidden work. The report should explain access limitations and recommendations for further assessment where appropriate. A clean-looking room is not proof that everything behind the lining has been inspected.
If you already suspect substantial leaks, major structural damage or another specialist issue, describe it before booking. A targeted or invasive investigation may need a different scope, permission and preparation. Do not assume that an ordinary booking includes destructive access or every specialist test.
Use the report alongside the rest of your research
Settled treats a property inspection as one part of researching a purchase. Council information and a LIM address different questions. Its guidance also cautions against assuming that a seller’s report gives the buyer the same contractual protection as a report they commission themselves.
Keep a list of questions for the inspector and your property lawyer. Ask the inspector to explain a finding you do not understand and clarify which recommendations need further professional input. Keep the final report, relevant correspondence and any follow-up findings together. You decide how that information affects your purchase with the advisers responsible for those decisions.
View the current TrickyBuilds report formats and floor-area prices before choosing a booking. A paid project-planning site visit is a separate service and should not be booked as a substitute for a property inspection.
Common questions
How is the building report price calculated?
The booking flow uses the estimated total floor area, number of storeys and selected report format. Review the current report price before paying. Larger or complex properties and specialist investigations may need a separate scope rather than an ordinary online booking.
What is the difference between the report formats?
A written report provides photographed findings and recommended next steps. The onsite explanation option includes a summary; the combined option adds a walkthrough to the written report. Read the current format descriptions and choose the one that meets your needs.
When will I receive the written building report?
The published written-report service states delivery within three working days after the inspection. Check the selected terms and discuss any purchase or lender deadline before booking. The appointment time itself is not the report-delivery time.
Does the report include a LIM or certify hidden work?
No. A LIM and other council records are separate property checks. TrickyBuilds’ standard report covers safely accessible, visible areas within its agreed scope; it does not certify hidden construction or include invasive work. Check lender requirements and specialist concerns before booking.
Sources and further reading
General planning guidance, checked 2 November 2026. Confirm the requirements, inspection scope and professional advice for your property before committing to work.
Choose a TrickyBuilds building report
TrickyBuilds offers residential visual inspections with report formats and prices based on the booking information. Choose a photographed written report, an onsite explanation with summary, or the combined format where offered. Check the current service scope, access conditions and floor-area price before booking. Tell us about purchase deadlines or specialist concerns first. A $75 project-planning visit is a separate product and does not include a residential building report.