As you are going through the process of buying your Brisbane property, you’re probably wondering about building and pest inspections. Are they necessary? How do you go about them? How long do building inspections take? What’s covered in a building inspection? How much will an inspection cost? If these questions are rattling around in your brain and stressing you out, we’re here to help!
When you’ve found the dream home you’ve been searching for, getting a building inspector in to conduct a thorough inspection is essential. It can be a stressful time though, so it’s important to understand the building inspections process and have a handle on the FAQs.
Andrew’s Expert Advice: After 30 years in the business and thousands of homes inspected, there probably isn’t a question I haven’t been asked. I probably sound like a broken record telling people that they need a pre-purchase inspection. But an inspection is only as useful as the person conducting it. You need independent, unbiased, professional and thorough inspections. Lucky for you, I don’t outsource work and do everything myself. There is nothing that replaces experience.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About Building and Pest Inspections
We’ve gone the extra mile and come up with answers to the most frequently asked questions about building and pest inspections (and some of the not so common!) questions to make your property buying experience so much easier! Read on to find out more.
THE FAQS AND NOTHING BUT THE FAQS
1. My friend is a builder; can’t he do my inspection for me?
Not a good idea. Your friend is no doubt good at what he does. He’s probably well-versed in all things structural, and knows how to spot a pest problem. That said, a building and pest inspection is a completely different ball game. Your builder friend is knowledgeable and will see defects that your naked eye may not. A qualified inspector, however, will undertake an extensive investigation of your property, inside and out. Besides, what happens if a serious problem is identified in your house not long after you’ve moved in? Would you take your builder friend to court, because he didn’t spot the issue? Leave it to the professionals and no one gets hurt, emotionally or financially.
2. What is a building inspection?
A building inspection helps you determine the structural integrity of a building you’re looking to buy, or a building in the process of being constructed. An inspection can be carried out before, during and after a building is built, and can be done at random to make sure builders are complying with the proper standards.
3. Why do I need a pre-purchase building inspection?
Pre-purchase building inspections are important so that you have a clear understanding about the condition of the building you intend to buy. You need to make sure you won’t be faced with any nasty surprises when you buy your ‘dream house’. While a property might look amazing on the outside, it’s what lies beneath that counts. Building inspectors examine areas you can’t see on an open inspection, so it’s one of the most important steps of buying a house.
4. What actually happens during building and pest inspections?
A building and pest inspection is a thorough and in-depth investigation of your property. It is designed to establish the true condition of your home or investment property, which is intended for residential use. All areas of your property will be investigated from top to bottom. Building and pest inspections involve going into the roof and under the house. Action Property Inspections use technical equipment such as thermal imaging, moisture metres and colour digital photography. Your property’s structural condition is noted and evidence of pests are identified and reported, so that you know exactly what to expect from your newest property purchase.
Depending on the qualifications of the inspector, building inspections can cover a wide range of issues and property features, including:
- structure
- foundations
- floors
- electrical areas
- ventilation and drainage
- plumbing
- any moisture issues
- retaining walls
- ceilings and walls
- fencing
- advice about maintenance
- guttering
- eaves
- hot water services
- heating and cooling
In general, it is a building inspector’s role to make sure a building is structurally sound.
5. What is thermal imaging?
A quality building inspector will usually offer thermal imaging as part of their service. This type of inspection involves the use of technology and equipment that detects radiation. It calculates the surface temperature of an object emitting radiation and converts it into a visual image showing variations in temperature. This method is a non-invasive way of investigating the issues within the structure of a building that may not be visible to the naked eye – like rising damp or termites. Like all technology, it does however have it’s limitations.
6. Can I attend the building and pest inspection and talk to the inspectors on the day?
Yes you can. For safety reasons you can’t go into the roof, and many people don’t want to go under the house (you can if you really want to), but you are welcome to attend the inspection. Your building inspector will be able to answer your questions on the day and discuss observations with you. It’s not mandatory for buyers to attend their building inspections, but it is encouraged. You’ll be able to see the condition of the property first hand.
If you can’t attend the inspection on the day, that’s OK. The building inspector takes photos of everything that’s inspected and includes these in the report. You will then be contacted the evening of the inspection and receive a detailed verbal run through on the condition of the property you are purchasing prior to the report being emailed. Your full report will be emailed to you that very evening.
7. How long does an inspection take?
How long a building and pest inspection takes is one of the most commonly asked questions about building inspections. The timing will depend on the size of your property, the condition of the house and the amount of issues that arise for the building inspector – including access to the roof and under your house. It is likely to take around 90 minutes to two hours, for an average sized house.
8. How long after a building inspection will I receive my report?
This depends upon the workload of the inspector and the nature of any issues that may have arisen with your property. Here at Action Property Inspections, we guarantee to have your report to you on the same day that your inspection was carried out, usually by 9pm.
9. When should I book in a building and pest inspection?
It’s always worth arranging a building and pest inspection when entering into a contract. It’s best to contact your real estate agent to determine when you can arrange an appropriate time and date for your building inspection. When you have your contract in place, your inspection needs to tie in with your settlement requirements.
10. How far in advance do I need to book building inspections?
In general, building inspectors require at least 48 hours of notice prior to commencing an inspection. Ultimately, however, all inspections are scheduled on a case by case basis, depending on the workload of the inspector and whether there are any accessibility issues with the property.
11. If my contract deadline is near, can I arrange an inspection at short notice?
We are used to last minute building and pest inspection requests and can carry out such inspections at short notice. That said, we’d ask you to contact Action Property Inspections as soon as possible, so we can work around our current bookings.
12. How much does a building and pest inspection cost?
Considering your home or investment property is likely to be the biggest investment you will make, the cost of a thorough building and pest inspection is minimal. Termite repairs to a fix up a property can be in the tens of thousands. Structural problems can cause huge financial stress and disruption to your life too. The consequences of not getting an inspection done far outweigh any cost concerns of undertaking a thorough building and pest inspection before you buy.
13. Is a building inspection expensive?
A building inspection is probably not as expensive as you think. Action Property Inspections can provide you with an accurate quote based upon the type of building you need inspected. Contact us online, or give us a call on 07 3201 2666 for more information.
14. Do you provide detailed reports?
Yes. Detailed pest and building inspection reports are a specialty for Action Property Inspections. Our reports are tailored and specific to your property; they are not computer-generated generic surveys, which other inspectors may use. On average, an Action pre-purchase building inspection report will be around 60 pages in length. Although reports are thorough and lengthy, they are easy for you to understand, and you can always ask questions on anything you are unsure of. Reports are emailed to you on the same evening as your inspection.
15. Will the report be easy to understand?
A good building inspection report should be designed to be clear, concise and easy to understand. If you require any clarification with the report and what’s been written about the property, Action Property Inspections are happy to offer follow-up advice and assistance if necessary. You’ll also be provided with photographs of all areas of the property. These are the signs of a qualified, quality inspection company.
16. What standards does a building inspector need to comply with?
Any building inspector you choose needs to be licensed with the QBCC (as of 1 January 2001) and must comply with the Australian Standard Inspection Regulations for building inspections. Action Property Inspections exceeds all requirements and all qualifications, licences and professional indemnity insurance is current and up-to-date.
17. Is your company licenced and are you insured?
Absolutely. Action Property Inspections is a professionally accredited and insured QBCC Master Builder, Licensed Building Inspector and member of Institute of Building Consultants. Ask our inspector to show you his licence when he attends your pest and building inspection; he will gladly do so. You may not realise, but only 50% of the home inspection industry is insured. Rest assured, Action Property Inspections will come to you fully insured, and we are happy to show you our insurance certification.
18. How long have you been in operation?
Action Property Inspections has been in the business for over 25 years. In a quarter of a century, we have conducted some 20 000 building inspections to industry standards. Considering our time in the industry, we have earned respect as one the most trusted building inspectors in South East Queensland.
19. How do I prepare for a building inspection?
You’ve done your research on building inspectors and chosen the best company around – now it’s time to prepare for your inspection!
You need to do your research on the property and prepare a list of any questions you might have. While the inspector will have his or her own checklist of things to watch out for, feel free to point out any specific areas of concern.
Ask your real estate agent or other selling parties for information about the history of the property. Online research might also let you know whether there’s been flooding or other unusual occurrences in the area.
Become familiar with the inspection process and be prepared to ask as many questions as you need. The more information you have, the easier the decision-making process will be.
20. Can a building or home fail an inspection?
We don’t grade buildings with a pass or fail, but instead provide you with an unbiased assessment of the property and its current condition. The report we provide will detail any issues that may have been uncovered in the home and what you need to do to get it up to muster. You may choose to proceed with the purchase, knowing you’ll need to carry out repairs. Alternatively, your building inspection report can be the basis of renegotiating or terminating your purchasing contract.
Make the right choice
Make an informed choice when booking building and pest inspections. Don’t go for the cheapest option, don’t call on your mate; call a fully licensed, insured building inspection firm. Remember, your property is the biggest investment you are likely to make in your lifetime. Make sure you know exactly what you’re buying into. Contact Action Property Inspections on Freecall 1800 642 465, or book your inspection online today
