4 Best Firms for a Building Inspection in Palmerston North
David Sims
| Last Updated: April 2021 Featured Image Source from Cosumnes River College
Need a building report for the property you intend to buy? If so, then our list of the best building inspection firms in Palmerston North is for you!
But before we check it out, we’ll discuss the price of building inspection services in the city. That way, you’ll know what to expect and how much you should pay upfront.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
How Much Does a Building Inspection Cost in Palmerston North
The cost of building inspections in Palmerston North will depend on your location, property size, and preferred inspector.
Prices can range between $400 and $1,200 for a building inspection and report. The report will include descriptions, pictures, problems, and findings about the property.
Most building inspections include moisture testing to check for hidden or possible leaks. However, some companies only offer it as an add-on for a certain price.
The quoted price you get online or by phone will usually exclude GST. So, it’s best to confirm this with a representative or check the details on the website carefully.
You may also find companies that let you choose the kind of building report: like verbal or full written. Verbal type reports are more affordable but less complete than written ones.
But don’t worry too much about the cost—your goal should be to get an informative, honest report. It’s fine if you have to pay a higher price for a reliable report, rather than get a cheap one that leaves you in doubt if the building is safe and free from issues.
Top Building Inspection Services in Palmerston North
With that in mind, we now present to you the top services for a building inspection in Palmerston North!
1) NZ House Surveys Manawatu
| Best for | Complete house inspection |
| Services | Building reports Asbestos testing Meth testing Other services (e.g. insurance and weather tightness reports) |
| Website | https://www.nzhousesurveys.co.nz |
| Address | 43 Walding Street, City Centre, Palmerston North 4110, New Zealand |
| Contact details | 0800 4 TRUTH (0800 487 884) [email protected] |
| Office hours | Open 24 hours |
NZ House Surveys is a trusted building inspector serving clients throughout the North Island. It is owned and led by Jeff Twigge who aims to provide a complete and detailed house report.
Their inspection team is certified and has decades of experience. Being a member of the NZ Institute of Building Inspectors, they are knowledgeable and competent in their work.
You might get to see that their inspections take longer than competitors. This is so they can better catch hidden issues or problems in the property. They also send two inspectors instead of just one, making the job more efficient.
Besides doing pre-buy inspections, NZ House Surveys can conduct meth testing (IANZ accredited), asbestos testing, and other services such as weather tightness and insurance reports.
Your building report will be sent to you within one business day by email or post. Also, they have a great after-sales service, where they will show you the report and interpret it to help you make an informed decision on buying a property.
For these reasons, NZ House Surveys is surely one of the best building inspection firms in Palmerston North!
Pros
- Complete and detailed house inspections
- NZIBI member
- IANZ-accredited meth testing
- 24-hour turnaround
- After-sales service
Cons
- Failed to notice building problems for some clients
Customer Reviews
Jeff helped many first-time homebuyers by giving them a full building report. They praised him for his prompt communication and for taking the time to explain the results.
Katy B. shared her experience with NZ House Surveys:
“First class service from start to finish. As a first home owner I had lots of questions and the team at NZ House Survey were incredibly helpful. I would 100% recommend this service. Thanks NZ House Survey s team”
Moreover, Iain posted this review of them:
“Excellent to deal with and offers great advice for home buyers and sellers, extremely honest opinion leaving no doubt in the mind. Jeff carried out an inspection and presented a report quickly, even offered and returned for a specific re-inspection at no cost which is likely to save me thousands. highly recommended for those wanting a thorough and professional inspection and general good building advice.”
2) Total Home Inspection Services
| Best for | Simple-to-read building report |
| Services | Pre-purchase inspection (for homebuyers) Independent builders report (for home sellers) Meth testing Healthy homes assessment (for landlords) |
| Website | https://www.thisnz.co.nz |
| Address | 9 Antrim Place, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand |
| Contact details | 0800 844 702 [email protected] |
| Office hours | Open 24 hours |
For a simple-to-read building report, look no further than Total Home Inspection Services!
Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or landlord, they can assess the structural and cosmetic concerns of the house and help you decide whether or not it’s viable to invest in it.
The qualified team works professionally and meticulously to discover any flaws or safety hazards in your chosen property. This will keep you and your family safe when you stay there and save you from spending a fortune on niggly repairs and maintenance.
According to clients, the staff are friendly and helpful, give useful advice, and finish the report quickly within 24 hours!
Pros
- Simple and jargon-free reports
- NZIBI registered
- Affordable rates
Cons
- No asbestos testing
- No quoting system
Customer Reviews
Total Home Inspection Services has a 5-star rating on both Google and Facebook.
One client named Jamie commented on the website:
“Excellent support in helping us buy our first home. Often doing inspections at unreasonably short notice. Highly recommended and super nice folks too!”
Here’s another one from Wendy who plans to sell a house:
“Chad was very professional but also very easy to talk to. As the seller of an old house, I was nervous about the building inspection process, but Chad put me at ease. The resulting report was accurate and informative and I will fix several minor issues with the property before it is listed for sale. Thanks Chad!”
3) Betta Inspect It
| Best for | Superb customer service |
| Services | Building inspection Meth testing Asbestos surveying and testing Condition assessments Maintenance schedules |
| Website | https://www.bettainspectit.co.nz |
| Address | 8 Flemington Lane, Awapuni, Palmerston North 4412, New Zealand |
| Contact details | Phone: 0800 422 388 Email: [email protected] |
| Office hours | Open every day from 8.00 AM – 5.30 PM |
Choosing the right building inspector is crucial, as the money you will spend on the house and the experience you will have living there are on the line.
Having proven themselves with many clients, you can rely on the Betta Inspect It team to provide you with a complete and accurate report.
Pre-purchase inspections, meth testing, asbestos surveying and testing… They can handle them for you in compliance with legal requirements.
They also make everything a breeze from getting a quote to explaining what the report means. The team is helpful, personable, and efficient, and goes the extra mile for clients.
Pros
- Thorough and accurate building reports
- Prompt and friendly team
- Free defect building guide
Cons
- Some complaints about customer service
Customer Reviews
Betta Inspect It garnered 5 stars and lots of positive client reviews. Most clients said that the staff provided an in-depth and reliable report and also arrived promptly at the scene.
Here’s feedback from one client, Aneesh:
“Thank you Betta Inspection for your inspection and detailed reports. Very happy with the inspection process and reports and special thanks to Andrew for discussing the reports over the phone and letting me know the things to do. It’s worth mentioning that their reports are very detailed and easy to understand. Value for money.”
Furthermore, Jason shared this:
“Andrew was great to talk to on the phone, and conducted a thorough and complete check on the property for a very reasonable price. The documentation supplied was easy to read, to the point, and very accurate. Would definitely use this company again.”
4) BT Advisory Ltd
| Best for | Pre-completion inspection |
| Services | Building inspections Meth testing Portable appliance testing Pre-completion inspection |
| Website | https://www.bta.kiwi |
| Address | 204/3 John F Kennedy Drive, Milson, Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand |
| Contact details | 027 283 0894 [email protected] |
| Office hours | Monday – Friday: 7.00 AM – 6.00 PM Saturday: 8.00 AM – 2.00 PM Sunday: closed |
Led by Ben Boyden, a builder himself and a Licenced Building Practitioner, BT Advisory Ltd offers some of the best building inspections in Palmerston North.
It offers building inspections for buyers and sellers, meth testing, portable appliance testing, and pre-completion inspections for new build and alteration projects.
They strive to write a report that’s informed, honest, and thorough. It is typed in simple language and includes digital photos, detailed findings, and recommendations.
Ben takes the health and safety of his clients seriously, concerning the pandemic and building safety. He takes that responsibility so you can buy a property with confidence and feel safe.
You can contact him by phone or email for a free estimate or to get your house inspection underway.
Pros
- Health and safety-oriented inspection
- Uses simple language in reports
Cons
- No asbestos testing
Customer Reviews
Everything worked smoothly for clients—absolutely no hassle. They are very satisfied with Ben’s professionalism and the reliable and easy-to-read building report.
Here’s what Mike has to say on Facebook:
“Amazing service very helpful will use you guys again very happy! Ben was onsite doing the inspection the morning after i called him
You guys rock thanks!”
Furthermore, Jo mentioned:
“Ben and Tammie completed a housing inspection and drug testing recently for us. I can not recommend highly enough. They took all the stress out for us, organising the appointment and completing the whole process within days. The report was extremely detailed but in a very easy to read manner. Thanks guys we would use you again in a heartbeat and will be recommending you!!”
FAQS about Building Inspections in Palmerston North
It’s worth getting the house checked out first before you purchase it. For that, you can ring the best building inspection specialists in Palmerston North!
Do you have any questions so far about our list? If you have one, kindly drop us a line and we’ll get back to you promptly.
Also, if you need a loan to buy a house, you can check out the best NZ home loans. This will start you on the journey of getting your dream home, including having it surveyed by a qualified home inspector.
