Every inspection is carried out by a trade-qualified inspector who has worked on New Zealand buildings - not a franchise operator working through a checklist. When we look at a house, we read the construction we have done ourselves: how the framing was probably set out, why that corner has cracked, and what a stain on the ceiling usually means. That background is the difference between a report that lists what is visible and one that tells you what it is likely to cost you.
An inspector's value comes down to two things: knowing what you are looking at, and having nothing to gain from the answer. We are not a franchise, we do not carry out repairs, and we are not engaged by the agent or the vendor. You are our client, and we write the report for you and nobody else.
The inspector who attended your property writes your report and includes photographs of every issue found, so you can see what matters at a glance. We email it within 24-48 hours. Written reports start at $499 + GST, and verbal reports start at $299 + GST when an auction has been brought forward.
+
+
Morgan Kircher owns and directs Alert Building Inspections and leads the team. Every inspector we send holds a formal building inspection qualification, has come from a construction trade, and maintains professional indemnity insurance. Between us, the team has inspected thousands of properties across New Zealand.
What that actually means for you: the inspector knows how the building should have been put together before they look at how it actually was. That is what makes a shortcut, an unconsented alteration or a repair done purely to sell a property stand out. You don't need any background, because the report is written in plain English with photographs for each finding, and we're available to talk it through after you have read it.
If you would like to understand the document before it arrives, our guide to reading a builders report explains the terminology and how the report works.
Important: a building inspection is a visual assessment of accessible areas. We do not remove fixtures, lift floor coverings, cut into linings, or open walls. Where the visible evidence warrants it, your inspector will recommend specific follow-up testing and tell you who should carry it out — that may be moisture testing, or a separate electrical, plumbing or structural engineering assessment. Naming the right specialist when a question falls outside our expertise is part of the job.
Alert Building Inspections provides building inspections throughout New Zealand, including Auckland, North Shore, West Auckland, East Auckland (Howick and Pakuranga), Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin, Whangarei, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and Palmerston North. We list every area we work in on our locations page. A trade-qualified inspector attends in person, and we email your written report within 24 to 48 hours.
A named, trade-qualified inspector from our team, and you will know who before the visit. We do not subcontract inspections to third parties. The same person writes your report, so you can ring afterwards and speak to the inspector who was at the property.
Every inspector is trade-qualified, has hands-on construction experience, and is trained in NZS 4306:2005 inspection methodology. Each one maintains professional indemnity insurance. We will tell you who is attending your property and what their background is if you ask — most people find it reassuring to know the inspector has built the type of house they are buying.
Yes. You engage us, you pay us, and the report is yours. We are not a franchise, we do not carry out remedial work, and we have no commercial relationship with the agent, the vendor or the tradespeople we might recommend. That independence is the reason the report is worth paying for.
Yes, and most buyers are. It is far easier to ask about something while the inspector is looking at it than to ring a week later trying to remember which wall you meant. If you cannot make it, the report carries photographs of every issue, and you are welcome to call and go through it.
Between them, yes — villa, 1950s state house, 1970s brick and tile, 1990s monolithic cladding, and modern builds. Each era has its own failure patterns, and knowing them tells the inspector where to look hardest before they even arrive. If your property is unusual, tell us when you book so we can send the right inspector. See our house inspection page for what a standard inspection covers.
It happens — a locked roof space, a subfloor hatch secured shut, dense planting against the cladding. The report will say plainly what could not be seen and why, rather than leaving you to assume it was checked. If we can arrange access later, we can usually return for a reduced fee.
Yes, and you should. Ring or email with anything unclear, or anything a builder or the agent has told you that doesn't match what we found. We are happy to explain our reasoning and to tell you when a specialist would be the better person to ask.
Yes, all of our inspectors maintain professional indemnity insurance, and we are bank-approved, so the report is acceptable to lenders and insurers. If your bank needs a written report rather than a verbal one, tell us when you book.
Copyright © 2016- Alert Building Inspections