AucklandHouse Inspection Services SoP

SCOPE OF WORK and TERMS of TRADE

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The Auckland House Inspection Services inspection is a current, visual inspection of the condition of the elements inspected on that particular day only. There is no guarantee against the failure of any inspected component or system. The report should be seen as a reasonable attempt to identify any Significant Fault or Defect visible during the visual inspection, rather than an all-encompassing report that addresses the home from every angle. Reporting any fault or defect is on an exceptional basis, rather than reporting on items that are in acceptable condition for their age. Only areas and elements listed in the report were inspected.

Our responsibility in this report is limited to the client to whom it is addressed. We disclaim all responsibility and accept no liability to any other party.

SCOPE OF INSPECTION.

Visual Inspections Only

The scope of the inspections is limited to visual inspections of building components that the inspector has reasonable access to and that are within a clear line of sight.

If not otherwise stated, the external inspection performed by an inspector to determine deficiencies of the following elements:

Site (Fencing, Retaining Walls, Decks, Surface Drainage, Grading);
Roof Elements (Roof Cover, Gutters, Downpipes, Fascia, and Soffits);
External (Walls Cladding, Windows, Doors, Stairs, Balconies and enclosed areas, Attachments and Penetrations);
Internal (Ceiling, Walls, Flooring, Joinery operations)
Crawl Space/Basement (Soil Condition; Waste pipe support and Plumbing Leaks, Posts, Insulation, Pests, Debris, Signs of floor damage under wet areas, Signs of foundation failure, Visual Inspection on borer presence).
Services (visual inspection only - visual appearance of Electrical, Plumbing, Gas, and Smoke Alarms elements readily open for inspection)

A non-invasive moisture meter will be used around accessible joinery or accessible identified risk areas. However, due to the instruments' limitations, their results are inconclusive and can only serve as an aid. This scan/test alone cannot be used to confirm or rule out deterioration in the framing or cladding systems. Therefore, no representations of the relative timber treatments and the presence of any mould or fungi such as Stachybotrys or mycotoxins in concealed walls, floor spaces, Gib and the like are given.

The moisture inspection includes only:

General rooms: Around window and external door openings; Adjacent walls to bathrooms; Areas which the inspector considers as suspicious; Any other areas with visual signs of mould and/or moisture signs/damage.
Bathrooms: Areas around showers and baths – especially the bottom corners; Areas around wall penetrations, such as mixers, shower heads, taps, and fixtures; Look for signs of water damage and marks. Water test shower screens for leaks.

Because this is a limited inspection, we cannot guarantee, expressed or implied, that our observations and random moisture readings provide conclusive evidence that no installation or moisture problems exist or that the problems found are all-inclusive. This does not guarantee that no moisture issues exist or that issues will not develop in the future. Therefore, no thermal imaging, probing, or destructive testing is performed unless explicitly ordered.

Inspection and Report Scope and Limitation

The inspection and report are intended only as a general guide to help you evaluate the home's overall condition and are not intended to reflect the value of the premises nor make any representation as to the advisability of sale or purchase.
The report expresses the inspector's opinions based on their visual impressions of the conditions existing at the time of the inspection.
The inspection and report are not intended to be technically exhaustive or to imply that every component was inspected or that every possible defect was discovered.
No disassembly of equipment, intrusive or destructive inspection, moving of furniture, appliances or stored items, or excavation will be performed.
All components and conditions that, by the nature of their location, are concealed, deliberately hidden, camouflaged or difficult to inspect are excluded from the report.
Any suggestions or recommendations contained in the report are suggestions only, and it shall be the responsibility of the person or persons carrying out the work to ensure the most appropriate remedy is carried out in conjunction with any further discoveries, warranties or manufacturers' recommendations and warranties, and any necessary local authority consents obtained before proceeding with remedial work.
Inspections of the systems at home are outside the scope of this report. The opinion of the inspector, who is not a qualified plumber, electrician or gas fitter. Your inspector will, however, conduct a cursory inspection of the hot water, plumbing, and electrical systems. Please note that this will be only a visual inspection, and our inspector will not inspect the air conditioning system, dishwashers, stoves, hobs, heating systems, aerials, swimming pools, or spas.
It is not our policy to provide verbal advice; instead, we will issue a written report. If you require us to provide verbal advice, we shall not be held responsible for that advice.
Matters which are not within the scope of the inspection include, but are not limited to: the existence of formaldehyde, lead paint, asbestos, toxic or flammable materials, pest infestation and other health or environmental hazards; the condition of playground equipment; the efficiency measurement of insulation or heating and cooling equipment; any internal or underground drainage or plumbing; any systems which are shut down or otherwise secured; water wells (water quality and quantity); zoning ordinances; cosmetics or building code conformity; intercoms, security systems, fire detection systems, heat sensors (any general comments about these systems and conditions are informational only and do not represent an inspection or form part of the report).
The inspection and report should not be construed as a compliance inspection of any building, nor as a verification of legal or territorial authority standards, codes, or regulations. The report is not intended to be a warranty or guarantee of the present or future weather tightness, adequacy or performance of the structure, its systems, or their parts. The report does not constitute any express or implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for use regarding the condition of the property, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any opinions expressed regarding adequacy, capacity, or expected life of components are general statements based on information about similar components, and occasional variations are to be expected between such estimates and actual experience.
This report does not cover buildings suffering from rotting, leaky, or toxic mould issues, and does not determine whether a home is a 'leaky home'. Our reports are not a comprehensive 'weather-tightness' report, as invasive testing would be required to be carried out through the exterior cladding into the building's framework to obtain conclusive results.
Moisture, Thermoimaging/ Infrared Inspections. Because any thermal imaging or non-invasive moisture reading is only a 'snapshot' at a particular point in time, all inspections and reports are valid for the day of inspection only due to various conditions outside our control after the inspection. A thermal imaging camera does not "see through" walls, nor does it detect moisture. The infrared camera detects only infrared radiation.
You accept that the inspector will not detect some faults because:

The fault only occurs intermittently.
Part of the home has not been used for a while, and the fault usually occurs after regular use (or detection of the fault would only occur after regular use).
The type of weather that would normally reveal the fault is not prevailing at or around the time of the inspection.
The fault has been deliberately concealed.
Furnishings are obscuring the fault (see clause 4 above).
We have been given incorrect information by you, the vendor (if any), the real estate consultant, or any other person.
The fault is/was not apparent on a visual inspection.

Inspectors have no personal interest.

We certify that we have no interest, present or contemplated, in the property or its improvement and no involvement with tradespeople or benefits derived from any sales or improvements. To the best of our knowledge and belief, all statements and information in the report are true and correct.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

The client understands and agrees that any claim regarding the accuracy of the report, including errors or omissions, is limited to the inspector's failure to follow the Auckland House Inspection Services Standard Procedure.

It is acknowledged that the contents of the report and the recommendations contained derive from a visual inspection only, and Auckland House Inspection Services gives no warranty (implied or otherwise) as to the structural integrity of the building, its fabric and/or components.
This report documents a visual-only, non-invasive inspection of the areas of the building that are readily visible at the time of inspection. The inspection did not include any areas or components which were concealed or closed in behind finished surfaces (such as plumbing, drainage, heating, framing, ventilation, insulation or wiring) or which required the moving of anything which impeded access or limited visibility (such as floor coverings, furniture, appliances, personal property, vehicles, vegetation, debris or soil).
The inspection did not assess compliance with the NZ Building Code, including its weather-tightness requirements and structural aspects. On request, separate specialist inspections must be arranged to evaluate weather tightness, structure, and any systems, including electrical, plumbing, gas, or heating.
As the purpose of this inspection was to assess the general condition of the building based on the limited visual inspection, this report may not identify all past, present or future defects. Descriptions in this report of systems or appliances relate to existence only and not adequacy or life expectancy. Any area or component of the building or any item or system not specifically identified in this report as having been inspected was excluded from the scope of the inspection.
We don’t provide written advice on the actual costs of rectification or repair. If the cost advice is provided verbally, it should be understood as general in nature only and should not be relied upon. The purchasers should seek actual costs by obtaining a separate inspection from a qualified trade contractor. No liability is accepted for costing advice.

Special Terms: The Summary Report (Restricted Scope Engagement)

1. Prevalence of Terms: Where the Client commissions "The Summary Report," the terms of this section take strict precedence over any broader inspection scopes outlined elsewhere in these Terms of Trade or Scope of Performance documents.

2. Defined Scope of the Executive Summary: The Client explicitly acknowledges and agrees that this specific service is a restricted-scope, non-invasive visual overview.

The generated PDF deliverable strictly ONLY includes: The Executive Summary, Advised Further Steps, and Annotated Photos. For the avoidance of doubt, the Executive Summary is strictly limited to a top-line assessment of the following seven (7) core elements:

Site & Drainage Basics (Surface water management and obvious major retaining issues)
Roof Cavity & Cover (Primary roof cladding condition and visible internal structural framing)
Cladding Systems (Exterior weather-tightness integrity and high-risk flashings)
Exterior Joinery (Window and door installations and cladding integration)
Foundations (Visible concrete perimeter rings, slabs, or structural footing lines)
Accessible Subfloor (Timber piles, joist connections, and ground moisture barriers)
Moisture Inspection (Targeted internal thermal imaging and non-invasive moisture meter mapping)

3. Exclusions & Liability Limitation: All detailed secondary asset itemisations, internal fittings, cabinetry, cosmetic element assessments, plumbing fixtures, electrical elements, and appliances are intentionally omitted to maintain this low-cost format. The physical presence of the inspector within an excluded area does not imply that an assessment of that area was conducted. Auckland House Inspection Services accepts zero professional liability for any defects existing within elements or systems excluded from the final Summary Report PDF.

4. Financial & Insurance Disclaimer: The Client acknowledges that a Summary Report may not be sufficient to satisfy the strict conditions of bank lending, finance, or insurance. The Client retains the right—and is strongly advised—to upgrade this file to a fully compliant, comprehensive report within fourteen (14) days of the site visit.

TERMS of TRADE

All commercially sensitive information obtained by either party during the report preparation shall remain confidential.

The report's contents or any other work prepared by us are confidential and have been prepared solely for you and shall not be relied upon by any third parties. We accept no responsibility for anything done or not done by any third party in reliance, whether wholly or partially, on any of the report's contents.

We have no responsibility or liability for any cost, loss or damage arising from:

any errors or omissions from information, data or documents not prepared by us, our employees, or other persons under our direct control;
any act or omission, lack of performance, negligent or fraudulent act by you as a client or/and homeowner;
any act or omission, lack of performance, negligence or fraud by any consultant, contractor or supplier to you or any of your employees or agents.

You shall pay all costs and expenses (including legal fees on a solicitor/Client basis) resulting from any breach of these terms of trade by you or the enforcement by us of these Terms of Trade.

The parties agree that the Laws of New Zealand govern these terms and conditions, and proceedings taken by the other party shall be heard in New Zealand, regardless of the location of your business/residence.

Payment Policy

In consideration for the provision of the inspection and report, you agree to the following terms:

Due Date: Payment is strictly due upon delivery of the report.
Overdue Accounts: Accounts unpaid by the due date will incur a late payment interest charge of 10% per calendar month on the total outstanding balance.
Recovery Costs: You agree to pay all administrative expenses, legal fees, and third-party debt collection costs incurred in recovering any overdue amounts.

Cancellation policy

The following fees apply to cancellations:

More than 48 Hours' Notice: No fee will be charged.
Less than 24 Hours of the Appointment: A cancellation fee of $200 plus GST will apply to cover administrative and scheduling adjustments.
Same-Day Cancellation (or after the inspector arrives on site): The full inspection fee will be charged

Disputes

Should any dispute arise from the inspection or report, it must be submitted to us in writing immediately.
You agree that upon raising a dispute, the contents of the report may not be used to satisfy any terms of a sale and purchase agreement until the disagreement/dispute has been resolved.
You agree that if, after raising a dispute, you use the inspection or report to make an unconditional offer or confirm a sale and purchase agreement, you waive all of your rights to continue with the dispute and/or raise any future dispute or claim against us.
In the event of a claim/dispute regarding damage to a home, you will allow us to investigate the claim prior to any repairs to the house being undertaken or completed. You agree that if you do not allow us to investigate the claims of damage before any repairs are carried out, you waive your rights to continue with and/or make any future claim against us.
In the event of any dispute, you agree not to disturb, repair, or attempt to repair anything that may constitute evidence relating to the dispute, except in the case of an emergency.
Any complaints will be subject to our internal complaints process.
No claim for damage or loss arising directly or indirectly in connection with the Services shall be brought more than two (2) months after completion of the Services. At that time, the Customer shall be deemed to have waived and abandoned any claims against us, our agents, or employees, and shall not be entitled to bring any claim against us, our agents, or employees.

Limitation of Liability

Our responsibility in connection with this report is limited to the client to whom it is addressed and to that client only. We disclaim all responsibility and accept no liability to any other party.
Subject to any statutory provisions, if we become liable to you, for any reason, for any loss, damage, harm or injury in any way connected with the completion of the inspection and/or report, our liability shall be limited to a sum not exceeding the cost of the inspection and report. We will not be liable to you for any consequential loss of whatever nature suffered by you or any other person injured, and indemnify us in respect of any claims concerning any such loss.
If the Customer intends to use the report in whole or in part for business purposes, the guarantees under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 do not apply.
Directors, shareholders, and employees of Auckland House Inspection Services shall not be held liable to the client and /or any third party who may rely on the report wholly or partly.
Auckland House Inspection Services will not be liable to the client for any consequential or special loss of whatever nature suffered by the client or any other person injured, and the client indemnifies Auckland House Inspection Services in respect of any claims concerning any such loss.
Subject to any statutory provisions, if we become liable to you, for any reason, for any loss, damage, harm or injury in any way connected with the completion of the inspection and/or report, our liability shall be limited to a sum not exceeding the cost of the inspection and report. We will not be liable to you for any consequential loss of whatever nature suffered by you or any other person injured, and indemnify us in respect of any claims concerning any such loss.
The purchaser agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the house inspector and/or the inspection company from any and all claims by the vendor or any third party arising from the purchaser's release of all or part of the report and/or the report summary. Further, the purchaser shall pay all legal costs incurred by the inspector and/or the inspection company arising from such claims.
The client understands and agrees that any failure to notify the inspector as stated above shall constitute a waiver of all claims related to the failure to accurately report the condition in question.

Non-Invasive Moisture Inspection (Moisture Scan/Test)

The Non-Invasive Internal Moisture Scan/Test is based on non-invasive moisture measurements and is performed in accordance with our Standard Procedure.

Scan/test results reflect the current condition of the areas/elements tested on the day of inspection.

The report is preliminary and superficial only, and although it is indicative of the current condition, it should not be used to base any purchase decisions. Instead, a more comprehensive house inspection and report are recommended.

Because this is a limited inspection, we cannot guarantee, expressed or implied, that our observations and random moisture readings provide conclusive evidence that no installation or moisture problems exist or that the problems found are comprehensive. It is in no way an assessment of compliance with any building codes or regulations and does not guarantee that no moisture issues exist or that issues will not develop in the future.

This inspection company, its employees, and any divisions shall not be liable for non-visual defects, unseen defects, unspecified defects or hidden damage and conditions existing on the subject property and hereby disclaims any liability or responsibility thereof. All parties concerned agree to hold harmless and indemnify this inspection company from any liabilities that may result.

Moisture inspection limitations

Please note that dry weather can affect a moisture inspection, as less moisture will remain in the structure. A wet season or after rain will produce a more accurate result. A non-invasive inspection can only read to a depth of 5-40 mm in a timber-framed wall, depending on the density of the material being tested, the construction, and the type of meter used. This means that if there is some dampness on the outside of the wall framing and it has not penetrated the wall sufficiently towards the above dimension, it may not be detected.
The non-invasive moisture meters will not detect or measure moisture through any electrically conductive materials, including, but not limited to, metal sheeting or cladding, black EPDM roofing, butyl roofing, some rubberised waterproofing, aluminium siding, wet surfaces, and aluminium foil.
Decayed timber (dry) is not detected by a non-invasive moisture meter; visual inspection with timber strength testing, collecting "shavings", and further investigation are recommended.
Sometimes, a vendor may disguise a problem by drying affected areas before the inspection, installing new linings, painting surfaces over, or placing furniture in front of the problematic areas. As our inspection is non-invasive and visual, and we can not move the vendor's furniture or belongings, we cannot be held liable for concealed or disguised problems. Obtaining a vendor statement regarding the house's moisture condition and a final re-inspection before settlement, when the house is empty, is highly recommended. Immediate notification of any problems to your solicitor and inspector is strongly advised.

Testing/Scanning method

Testing Drywall, Ceramic tiles and other wall and floor coverings. Using non-invasive moisture meters on materials other than exposed timber is not a reliable indicator of moisture content below the surface. As calibration is not practical due to the variation in composition of these types of construction, tests are carried out on a comparative basis, selecting the most suitable scale. The information gained can only be helpful in comparative terms, not in absolute terms – when readings in known dry areas are low but are higher in a suspect location of similar construction, there may be elevated moisture levels.

COPYRIGHTS

The Inspection Company retains the copyright of all documents prepared by the Company in connection with the inspection.

REASONABLE ACCESS

You agree to ensure that Reasonable Access can be gained to the property, including, but not limited to, the roof cavity and foundation spaces, and that any such areas, if they exist, are cleared for an inspection to be carried out.

Reasonable access means access that is safe, unobstructed, and has the minimum clearance specified in the table below (or, if the minimum clearance is not available, the area is within the inspector's clear line of vision).

Area Access manhole (mm) Crawlspace (mm) Height

Roof exterior Access from a 3.6m ladder

Roof space 450 x 400 600 x 600 Access from 3.6m ladder

Subfloor 500 x 400 Vertical clearance*

Concrete floor 500

Timber floor 400

* From the underside of the bearer.