Why do I need a building inspection report?
The benefits of getting a building inspection report prior the contract exchange are:
- You know what you are paying for and also what repairs you are probably expecting in the short and long term
- You can negotiate the price since you may have to pay to repair some of the building issues
What is a standard pre-purchase property inspection report?
When you are buying a property one of the main things recommended to be checked is the property’s condition. The property condition check can be a bit complicated sometimes. The inspection can be done by a professional building inspector or even by the potential buyers. If you are not familiar with building elements and or basic building codes, we strongly recommend you engage a qualified and experienced building inspector. Building inspectors normally get back to you with a building condition report that is commonly known as a “pre-purchase inspection report”.
The building inspection report is the property condition at the time of inspection and will include any significant building defects or problems such as rising damp, movements in the walls (cracking), safety hazards, potential moisture presence, defective works, or even faulty roof. It is usually carried out before you exchange sale contracts or during the cooling off period so you can identify major issues which, if left unchecked, could result in costly repairs.
A pest inspection is often done at the same time with a building inspection, and is a visual inspection undertaken to identify any presence of pests on the property. Termite activity devices and good moisture metres help the inspectors to detect evidence of a current or past infestation of pests such as termites and borers and reach a better conclusion of the property condition.
DIY Building Inspections
If for any reason you decide to do your own property inspection, be prepared in advanced, prepare a checklist before you turn up for inspection, this saves you a lot of time, and focuses on what to look when you are on site.
When you are preparing your checklist, make sure you cover the following items:
- Check that windows and doors are easily openable and don’t get caught in their frames.
- Check for rising damp signs
- Check for damp or mould presence along skirting boards, walls, and ceilings, or any sign of previous mould treatments throughout the property
- Check for stains on ceilings, sagging ceilings
- If possible, lift up carpet and check for rotting floorboards or damp
- Try all taps and check if they are connected and how long it takes for hot water to come through
- Flush the toilet to check for a running cistern or signs of leakage
- Check the vanities, look under sinks for signs of previous leakage or repairs
- Check the hot water unit condition and its location
- Turn on and off the lights and check the metre box if an Earth Leakage Safety Switch is installed
- Check general state of the roof, guttering, and down pipes
- Ask if the owners know of asbestos existence in the building elements
- Inspect exterior walls for cracks, weep holes
- Listen to gauge noise levels. It is a good idea to test the noise levels around the property at different times of day
- What does the property smell like? Are there strong moist smell or smells from nearby restaurants or waste treatment plants?
Inspection by a Qualified Inspector
Firstly, getting the inspection done by a qualified inspector makes the inspection process stress free, and secondly, the inspectors know what they should look at when they get to the property. They are familiar with local regulations, Australian Building Code, and some of them carry advanced equipment like thermal cameras, moisture metres, termite activity detection devices, and drones to track and diagnose the defects.
Remember a pre-purchase inspection is non-invasive inspection, it means the inspector is not allowed to remove any items or damage the property for further investigation. This is when advanced equipment comes in very handy.
Before you engage your inspector, make sure they are licenced building practitioners and discuss the methods they use for their inspections. The Australian Standard for building inspections 4349.1 -2007 and timber pest inspections 4349.3 requires that every pre-purchase inspection has a pre-engagement agreement accepted by the home purchaser (or their solicitor/conveyancer) before commencement of the inspection.
To discuss your specific pre-purchase building report feel free to contact us today.