Buying a home: due diligence checklist
A step-by-step checklist from first look to settlement day.
- Before an offer: ask your lawyer for a title search, look at the LIM, and compare recent sales nearby.What does LIM mean?A LIM (land information memorandum) is a report from the local council about the property, such as its rates and what the council's records hold on it. settled.govt.nz (Te Kāhui Kāinga Ora / REA): Understanding the sale and purchase agreement
- In your conditions period: get a builder's report, confirm finance, check insurance, and ask about specialist reports if needed.What does Building report mean?A building report is a written check of the property by an accredited inspector that lists any defects; settled.govt.nz suggests one that meets the standard NZS 4306:2005. settled.govt.nz (Te Kāhui Kāinga Ora / REA): Learning about the property
- Before conditions end, review every report and decide to go unconditional, renegotiate, extend or walk away.
- Before settlement: inspect the property, sign loan papers, line up insurance and utilities, and check the settlement statement.What does Settlement mean?Settlement day is the day you pay the balance of the purchase price and the property becomes yours. settled.govt.nz (Te Kāhui Kāinga Ora / REA): Settling on settlement day
- Overseas buyers should add tax, consent and funds-source checks at the start.
Check the details. Check each step with your lawyer, your lender and your insurer before you go unconditional.
Official pages
Shortened from a Berry article first written 2026-05-16. Figures we could not check against a public source were taken out. This is general information, not advice.