Who this article is for
Property buyers, owners, buyer agents, conveyancers and advisors using Expert Reports to support purchasing decisions.
What this article covers
How to read and interpret your report
What to share with your advisor
How to use the insights to guide next steps
What to do when risks are identified
Step 1 — Start with the Summary
Every report begins with an Expert-written summary covering:
Overall building health
Key risks
Strong points
Important context
This gives you an instant sense of the building’s condition and stability.
Step 2 — Review the identified risks carefully
Risks may relate to:
Funding issues
Major works or defects
Compliance gaps
Insurance limitations
Governance or behavioural concerns
Experts prioritise these issues so you can understand which ones matter most.
Step 3 — Look at the Expert’s recommendations
Recommendations help you take practical next steps, such as:
Requesting extra documents
Asking specific questions of the manager
Clarifying insurance coverage
Discussing certain items with your conveyancer
Monitoring issues after purchase
These recommendations are actionable and designed for buyers.
Step 4 — Discuss the report with your professional advisors
We strongly suggest sharing the Insight Report with your:
Conveyancer or solicitor
Buyer agent
Financial or legal advisors
They can:
Provide legal interpretation
Identify implications for your contract
Recommend additional searches or checks
Step 5 — Use the insights in negotiations
The report gives you credible, evidence-based information that can support:
Contract terms
Negotiations on price
Requests for clarification or repairs
Timing adjustments
Buyers often use Expert Reports to strengthen their position.
Step 6 — Keep the report for long-term reference
Even after purchasing, your Insight Report remains valuable for:
Understanding future repair needs
Knowing what to monitor
Committee involvement
Long-term planning
FAQs
Should I get additional inspections?
Depending on your conveyancer’s advice, additional checks may be recommended for specific issues.
Can the Expert clarify parts of the report?
If your service level includes messaging, yes. Otherwise, recommendations are clearly written to stand alone.
Does the report tell me whether to buy the property?
No — it informs your decision. It does not replace legal, financial or engineering advice.
Related articles
How Experts Write Their Reports
How Cohabit Experts Support Buyers and Owners
5. What to Expect from a Cohabit Expert
Short description (Intercom style):
Clear guidance on what Cohabit Experts do—and what they don’t do—when preparing your building insights.
Who this article is for
Buyers, owners, agents and advisors who want clarity on the Expert’s role in the report-writing process.
What this article covers
Expert responsibilities
What Experts can and cannot do
Neutrality and independence
Typical turnaround expectations
What Cohabit Experts do
Experts are responsible for:
Reviewing the building’s documents
Identifying risks and strengths
Interpreting the Health Score
Connecting patterns across documents
Translating findings into easy-to-read insights
Providing practical next steps
Their goal is to help you make a confident, informed decision.
What Experts do not do
To maintain independence, Experts do not:
Provide legal, financial or investment advice
Physically inspect the building (unless separately commissioned)
Take sides between buyers and sellers
Communicate with the owners corporation on your behalf
Change or influence the building’s Health Score
They focus solely on analysing and explaining the information available.
How Experts maintain neutrality
Cohabit Experts base their insights on:
Document evidence
Clear patterns in the building’s history
Established methodology
Professional judgment based on experience
Their role is to inform—not persuade.
Turnaround expectations
Timing depends on:
Building complexity
Quantity of documents
Demand
You will always see an estimated turnaround time when requesting your report.
FAQs
Does the Expert see personal information?
Only building-related documents relevant to the report.
Can I request additional analysis?
Your conveyancer or advisor may request additional checks, depending on the service level.
Can Experts validate missing data?
If documents are missing, Experts will highlight the impact on your assessment, but cannot replace missing records.