Buying a Home

Finding the right home starts with knowing what will work for you day to day, what you can spend and what you need to check before making an offer. Ray White Innes Road’s listings bring together property details, viewing times and the salesperson who can arrange access and provide the available documents. This guide takes you from your first shortlist to collecting the keys.

Browse homes for sale or plan your visits using our open-home times.

Set a budget that works after moving day

Start with a comfortable repayment budget, rather than treating the maximum loan available as your spending target. Allow for rates, insurance, maintenance and any body corporate or shared-property costs as well as the purchase price. Keep money available for legal work, property reports and moving.

Discuss your deposit and borrowing range with your lender or mortgage adviser before viewing. When a home interests you, check that the lender will accept that particular property and what is needed for final approval. A pre-approval may have conditions and an expiry date.

Buying your first home? Confirm the timing of your deposit and discuss any KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal with your provider and lawyer early. Check eligibility and processing requirements for your own situation. Settled’s first-home guidance is a useful independent starting point.

Build a shortlist around how you live

Separate essentials from preferences. Think about bedrooms and working space, stairs, parking, outdoor space, storage and how much maintenance you want to take on. A smaller easy-care home and a larger established property can suit very different plans even at a similar price.

Compare the whole property, including its ownership arrangements. Ask about shared driveways, boundaries, exclusive-use areas and ongoing responsibilities. Your lawyer can explain the differences between freehold, cross-lease, unit title and leasehold ownership before you commit.

Make each viewing useful

Take the same checklist to each home so you can compare it fairly afterwards. Walk through at your own pace and, where possible, revisit at a different time of day.

• Notice natural light, ventilation, heating, storage and how rooms connect.
• Look at access, parking, fencing, drainage and the upkeep the section may need.
• Check what is included in the sale, from appliances and heat pumps to garden sheds.
• Ask about alterations, known issues and the available supporting records.
• Check the actual address for school enrolment zones and make the trips you would use regularly.

Appearance is only part of the picture. A viewing helps you decide whether to investigate further; an independent inspection can help establish condition. Settled’s open-home checklist gives you more questions to take along.

Know what the property records can tell you

Ask the listing salesperson for the documents available for the home and arrange your own advice on anything you need to rely on.

• Title and ownership: your lawyer can check registered interests, easements, covenants and shared obligations.
• Council information: review relevant consents, plans and property information. A LIM and a property file serve different purposes; agree with your advisers what you need.
• Building condition: use an appropriately qualified inspector and discuss the scope of the inspection.
• Insurance and lending: confirm acceptable cover and finance for this property before you are committed to an unconditional purchase.

In Christchurch, ask for available earthquake assessment, claim and repair records and information about later alterations. Check whether the documents explain what was repaired, by whom and what remains unresolved. Discuss any gaps with your lawyer, building adviser, lender and insurer.

The council’s property-file service and flooding and floor-level information are useful starting points for address-specific research.

For a fuller way to organise Christchurch council files, past claims, repair evidence and specialist questions, read our Property Records & Repairs guide. It also explains why claim history, building condition, insurance and legal rights need their own checks.

Considering land, a new build or alterations?

If you are considering alterations, a new build or land, investigate the actual planning rules, title restrictions, services, ground information and consent requirements before committing. The size of a section or a neighbouring development does not establish what can be built on it. A planner, lawyer, designer and other relevant specialists can help establish what is feasible.

Be ready for the sale method

Register your interest with the listing salesperson so you can receive updates about the property and sale process. Check the deadline, whether early offers may be considered and how to submit an offer.

For a priced or negotiation sale, work through the proposed price, conditions, deposit and settlement date with your lawyer. For a deadline sale or tender, understand the submission requirements and closing time. If a multi-offer process arises, ask the salesperson to explain it before submitting your offer.

For an auction, arrange your legal, finance, insurance and property checks before bidding. Read the terms and discuss any change you need in advance. Our buying-at-auction guide explains preparation, and you can watch our auctions to become familiar with the format.

An offer is more than a price. Your lawyer should review the agreement, chattels, conditions and dates before you sign. Read Settled’s offer guidance alongside advice for your purchase.

From an accepted offer to the keys

Keep a clear list of conditions, deadlines and who is arranging each check. Your lawyer and lender will guide the legal and funding steps; keep the salesperson informed about access needed for inspections or valuations.

Once the agreement is unconditional, organise the move, utilities and insurance arrangements. Arrange the pre-settlement inspection and check the agreed chattels and property against the agreement. Raise concerns with your lawyer promptly so they can be addressed before settlement. Confirm key collection with the salesperson once settlement has been completed.

Talk to us about a home

For viewing arrangements, available documents or a question about one of our listings, contact its salesperson, meet the Innes Road team or call 03 386 0311. Selling as well? Our seller guide helps you plan both sides of the move. For an investment purchase, our rental yield explanation shows how to start comparing income and costs.