Short answer: Before settlement, prepare the property and agreed chattels for inspection, confirm legal, lender and insurance steps, and follow the signed agreement. If settlement may be delayed, contact the lawyer promptly because consequences and remedies depend on the contract and facts.
Prepare for the pre-settlement inspection
Settled.govt.nz's settlement planning guidance covers inspections, finances and legal steps before settlement. Work backwards from the signed date. Check agreed access with the agent and lawyer, complete required cleaning or agreed work, and ensure chattels included in the agreement remain at the property in the required condition.
Use a handover list for keys, remotes, manuals, meter readings and safe smart-home transfer. Do not include passwords, alarm codes or unnecessary personal information in a buyer pack. Photograph the condition of important chattels and any completed agreed work for your own records.
Respond to inspection issues through the agreement
If the buyer raises an issue, send it to the lawyer and agent promptly. Do not decide from a website whether the buyer can require repair, compensation or another remedy. The answer depends on the agreement, property condition and evidence.
Record the issue, who is handling it and the written outcome. Avoid making a last-minute promise outside the formal process. If a tradesperson attends, preserve the invoice, scope, photographs and any warranty.
Coordinate money, possession and insurance
Confirm lender discharge or security steps with the lender and lawyer. Ask when funds, possession and keys can be released. The website timeline cannot see trust-account receipt, bank processing or special settlement terms and therefore cannot authorise access.
Check house and contents insurance start and end dates directly with the insurer. Do not cancel cover merely because the property is empty, inspected or expected to settle. Tell the insurer about vacancy, storage or temporary accommodation where relevant.
Treat delayed settlement as a legal issue
If either side may not settle on time, contact the lawyer immediately. Costs, notices, interest, possession and cancellation rights are legal questions controlled by the agreement and circumstances. Generic article wording cannot safely tell a seller what will happen.
Keep movers, storage and the next-home plan recoverable until settlement is confirmed. Record changed bookings and costs, but do not present them as automatically recoverable from the other party. Ask the lawyer what evidence should be retained.
- Inspection access and property readiness
- Agreed chattels and handover items
- Lawyer, lender and insurer confirmation
- Immediate escalation of any delay
Put this guide into your private workspace
Use these connected tools to record your own facts and questions. Values stay private and are never sent to an agent without a separate reviewed contact action.
Frequently asked questions
Can the buyer inspect before settlement?
Follow the signed agreement and arrangements confirmed through the agent and lawyer.
Who decides whether an inspection issue must be fixed?
Ask the lawyer to apply the agreement to the issue and evidence. Do not rely on the website for a legal remedy.
What if settlement is delayed?
Contact the lawyer promptly and keep practical bookings flexible. The legal consequences depend on the signed terms and facts.
Official sources
Sources were accessed and checked on 21 August 2026. Keep the live source and current professional advice as authority if rules or circumstances change.