Get good advice and buy right

Buying a home is a big financial investment. More than that, it is at the heart of you and your family's life.

So it's important to get it right and make an informed decision.

The home buyers' checklist covers what to ask, structural aspects to check, how to inspect a property's history and title, the importance of getting a good contract, and what professional advice to seek.

Remember that often it is emotional factors that decide the purchase of a home. Keep a level head and carry out essential checks.

Some checks to ensure you buy smart

• Get a qualified building consultant to check features like the roof, water pressure, electrical wiring, piles and any evidence of house movement.
• Ask whether there are any problems, particularly if the house is a modern design or has had post-1990 additions.
• Identify features that make the property more likely to have possible issues with weathertightness. These include: houses using monolithic cladding (generally, textured plaster wall surfaces over polystyrene or fibre cement sheet); lack of roof overhang or eaves; balconies above rooms; wall claddings in contact with the ground; lack of flashings above windows and doors; and parapets without sloped tops or adequate cap flashings.
• Look for water damage, cracks, mould, bulging, staining and areas where water cannot drain freely.
• Seek advice from a lawyer about the property's title.
• Get a council Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report which shows legally made alterations and any proposed council changes to the neighbourhood.
• Use a contract like the Auckland District Law Society's standard sale and purchase contract.