Informed Buying

For most Kiwis, their home is their biggest single asset they will own. Buying a property is, for most, an exciting and often stressful time. When purchasing a property, you're not only buying the structure and its foundations above, but you're also buying the land. 

It's common practice for potential purchasers to engage structural engineers and licensed builders to evaluate the condition of the buildings, but rarely is the land condition scrutinised to the same degree. A potential land hazard is soil contamination. The presence of soil contamination can affect the value of the land, its resale potential and its future developability. In extreme circumstances it could have negative effects on your health or the surrounding environment. 

Below is our essential guide to conducting your property purchase due diligence and safeguarding your investment. 

1. Make time: Allow time in the purchase process to complete an adequate due diligence assessment. Assessing land for potential land contamination can take between 1 and 4 weeks! Therefore, it’s advisable to start the following checks as soon as you’re interested in the site. 
2. Do your homework: Several information sources offer invaluable insights into the potential condition of the land. To learn about the land's history, check with your local council for property files and review historic aerial photos that date back to the mid-20th century. Also, consult your local council for information on Hazardous Activity and Industries List (HAIL) uses to understand the site's history. 
3. Talk to us: With over 90 years of experience as a New Zealand-owned land development consultancy, we specialise in addressing land-related enquiries. Our expertise lies in guiding clients on available information and its implications for the proposed use. We offer assessment options for the site and are ready to provide valuable, timely advice.
4. Expert advice: Leveraging 40 years of collective experience in land contamination assessment, our team of environmental scientists are well-versed in various scenarios. With extensive local knowledge, we guide you through the process, ensuring that you make an informed purchase with a comprehensive understanding of the property's contamination status. 
5. Get access: Set aside enough time for a thorough due diligence process to evaluate the site for potential land contamination. Relying solely on desktop information may have limitations, so it's recommended to conduct on-site assessments. This involves sampling soil and possibly groundwater, both for initial screening and detailed laboratory analysis to better understand ground conditions. 
6. Don’t give up: If you've set your sights on a fixer-upper but face unfavourable soil results, don't give up on the idea just yet. Soil contamination can be remedied through various cost-effective methods. Early identification in the due diligence process allows negotiation with the vendor for them to cover remediation costs or discount them from the sale price. We offer support in planning, pricing, and executing the remediation process. 

Assess the land thoroughly, negotiate effectively and plan for remediation if needed. Don't let contamination concerns hinder your dream home – take informed action with our expert help.