Our handy checklist of things you need to investigate and arrange before you buy.

Checklist before you buy

If you are still keen on the section after your initial inspections, there is further information you should research before buying. You can do this yourself, or your designer, project manager or lawyer will do this work for you if it is part of their brief. You should:

• Get a copy of the certificate of title.
• Check the certificate of title for convenants, easements and consent notices placed at the time of subdivision that might limit your use of the site.
• Check the district plan – this will tell you things like height or boundary restrictions, and will let you know what your neighbours are permitted to do.
• Also check the district plan to find out if you need any resource consents before you start building.
• Get a Land Information Memorandum from the council.
• Decide if an engineer's report is necessary before you buy (your designer can advise you on this).
• Find out what wind zone the site is located in. The council will provide this information or direct you to someone who can.
• Check the survey information.
• Get a valuation to decide if the price is right and if needed for mortgage purposes.
• Make sure you have a satisfactory sale and purchase agreement.