Buying a home may be the biggest financial investment a person will make. A pre-purchase inspection is a very small investment relative to the purchase price of the home and gives the buyer the assurance that the property has been thoroughly checked over by an accredited builder. The inspection will highlight any defects, existing problems and potential problems areas in the house before you commit to buying. This is important information for the buyer as repairs can be budgeted for, or a reduction in the purchase price can often be negotiated.
What do we inspect in a pre-purchase inspection?
Our pre-purchase inspections comply with Australian Standard AS 4349.1-1995. The inspection comprises a visual assessment of the property to identify major defects and to form an opinion regarding the general condition of the property. The following areas are inspected where access is available:
- The interior of the building: ceilings; walls; floors; windows; doors & frames in the kitchen; bedrooms; living areas; bathroom; WC; ensuite; laundry; stairs & damp problems.
- The exterior of the building: walls (including lintels, claddings, doors & windows); timber or steel frames & structures; chimneys; stairs; balconies, verandas, patios, decks, suspended concrete floors and balustrades.
- The roof exterior: roof (including tiles, shingles & slates, roof sheeting, gables, flashings); skylights, vents, flues; valleys; guttering; downpipes; eaves, fascias and barges.
- The roof space: roof covering; roof framing; sarking; party walls; insulation.
- The sub-floor space: timber floor (including supports, floor, ventilation, drainage, damp); suspended concrete floor.
How do we arrange a pre-purchase inspection?
The inspector will arrange a convenient date and time with the agent/vendor to inspect the property. The inspections take up to two hours depending on the size and condition of the property. The purchaser is encouraged to attend as it is a good opportunity to discuss any current issues or potential future developments that may be planned. The inspector is an experienced accredited building practitioner and is qualified to offer advice on costs and the feasibility of proposed building changes.
How are defects reported?
The inspector compiles a report which documents any building and maintenance issues that were noted in the inspection. The report categorises defects as:
- Major – where rectification has to be carried out in order to avoid unsafe conditions, loss of utility or further deterioration of the property.
- Minor – primarily aesthetic or relating to a localized part of the building.
- Safety hazard – a defect that in the opinion of the inspector is or may constitute a potentially serious safety hazard.
- Further investigation – a defect or possible defect that in the opinion of the inspector warrants further investigation by an appropriate specialist.
Detailed images are included in the report to give the reader a clear understanding of where defects are located. Solutions are suggested and relevant tradespeople can be recommended if required.
How much does it cost?
Building inspection charges are based on an hourly rate. Pricing is based on the onsite investigation and time taken to generate a report. Larger or older buildings generally take longer to inspect and report than smaller units or houses and prices are quoted accordingly.
Inspections and a full written report usually cost from $280 to $450 depending on the size, location and age of the property. We can quote you a price over the phone or contact us for a fixed price quote.
Why choose Building eValuate for your pre-purchase building inspection?
- We are accredited building practitioners.
- We are accredited professional building inspectors.
- We are cert 1 qualified building thermographers and utilise thermal imaging as part of our inspection.
- We protect your interests by carrying full professional indemnity insurance.
- Our reports are not a tick box style, the report includes detailed images to clarify highlighted problems.
- We do not rely on recommendations from real estate agents, we are independent property inspectors.
Defect examples recorded at recently inspected buildings (click on image for more information)
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Water pooling under a house that was constructed on a steep site. If left unchecked this build-up of water could potentially damage the foundations of the building.
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Insulation only partly installed over a conditioned zone in a new building. Heat loss is a major consideration in buildings. Up to 45% of heat is lost through the ceiling. It is important to maintain good coverage.
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Permanent support props installed under a recently renovated bathroom. These structural supports should be engineer approved and set on a concrete base.
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An ‘I’ beam installed on its side. This beam would have poor structural integrity in this position as the beam is designed to carry a load with the central web in the vertical position.
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This shower bay appears in good condition. Some cracked and missing grout was noted and a test with a moisture meter indicated a considerable amount of water had penetrated the substrate material. This can potentially lead to structural breakdown, mould issues and delaminating wall tiles.
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This building had been completed and occupied for 12 months. There is a section of roofing and flashings missing on an exposed side of the roof which exposed the interior linings to the elements.
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Water was leaking from this shower enclosure and damaging the adjacent plaster sheeting. Water was entering the room backing onto this enclosure and was presenting as mould growth on a newly carpeted area.
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Fiberglass batts have been installed over a downlight. This could be a potential fire hazard. Current standards call for protective shrouds to be installed to isolate recessed downlights from insulation.
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A large sliding door unit had been installed to access a deck area. As part of the installation process, the permanent wall bracing had been removed to facilitate the door unit installation. This resulted the loss of lateral structural integrity in the wall. The wall vibrates in high winds.
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An original balustrade on a 1960’s home. This rail would not comply with current Building Code of Australia (BCA) standards. The rail is 250mm too low and the balusters are 95 mm too far apart at the widest point. This may be considered as a potential safety issue.
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Image indicating leakage area at the base of a wall adjoining a leaking shower enclosure. No visible water damage evident on the wall linings.
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Thermal image showing base of wall adjoining a leaking shower enclosure. Thermal camera highlights water damage not previously evident.
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Image indicating area of water ingress into the ceiling cavity from a second storey leaking shower.
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Thermal Image indicating the magnitude of water ingress into the ceiling cavity from a second storey leaking shower.
