How To Read A Builders Report With Confidence

A builder’s report can feel like a bunch of headlines until you know how to read the labels and what they imply for real risk, real money, and real next steps. We sit down with Evan to translate the common report terms into plain English, so you can stop guessing and start prioritising. If you’re buying a home, supporting a client, or simply trying to understand what you’re looking at before going unconditional, this is the practical guide we wish everyone had.We unpack what a New Zealand pre-purchase building inspection report typically covers, from exterior claddings and roof spaces to subfloors, sites, and moisture readings. Evan explains the difference between cosmetic issues and minor maintenance, and why that distinction changes fast depending on the scale of the home, from an 80 square metre weatherboard to a 350 square metre two-storey property. We also dig into “action required”, the phrase banks and lawyers latch onto, and how it links to weathertightness risk and long-term deterioration if defects are left unattended.We then get into judgement calls that matter: when something becomes a safety hazard, like a second-storey deck balustrade with timber decay, and when a report has to say “further investigation” because access or conditions prevent a complete view. Finally, we talk about the growing habit of throwing reports into AI, what it does well, and what it can miss without the right prompts, plus where electrical checks sit in a builder’s scope and why older wiring can trigger insurance requirements.If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s house hunting, and leave a review so more Kiwis can buy with confidence. What part of a builder’s report do you find hardest to interpret?Send us Fan Mail Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are!Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72