Ask for the history, not a reassurance
The supplied particulars describe a fibrous cement exterior and iron roof. Those descriptions do not establish their present condition or remaining life. Ask for the dates and scope of roof work, exterior coatings, deck maintenance and any repairs. Invoices, warranties and photographs can help your inspector understand the history.
If work has been completed, ask who carried it out and whether any relevant approvals or records are available. Keep a list of anything that is still awaiting an answer. A statement that a house has been well looked after is not the same as a documented maintenance history.
Give the inspector your questions
Tell your building inspector how you expect to use the property and what you noticed on the viewing. Include the exterior, roof, decks and any dampness concerns in the discussion of scope. Ask which areas cannot be accessed and what further checks may be needed.
Settled's guidance explains that inspection reports can identify immediate work and longer-term maintenance. Commission advice you can rely on for your purchase rather than treating this website, or a seller-supplied report, as a condition assessment.
Think about time between visits
For a home used on weekends, ask how it is checked and aired when unoccupied. Think about who would notice a problem if you were away, how you would arrange a repair and what you would want inspected before a long absence.
Request actual running and maintenance costs where available. Build your own allowance from the property's condition and professional advice. There is no confirmed annual maintenance budget in the supplied material, so a percentage or estimated figure here would give a false sense of precision.
