General:
What is Compare Inspections?
Compare Inspections is a unique site that takes the hassle out of buying inspection reports whilst at the same time saving you money. We provide reports from a range of inspection companies to save you having to shop around. Readymade reports can be purchased at a discount price and downloaded immediately or you can compare prices across a range of new inspection reports and order online.
Compare Inspections is also the first site that enables customers to resell those reports and earn back money on every copy sold. It’s even possible to make a profit from buying a report at Compare Inspections!
How does it work?
Simply enter an address and our system will check if there are any existing reports already available for that property. Existing reports are sold at 25% off the list price and can be downloaded immediately (if you have selected a report still on order it will be emailed to you as soon as inspector uploads the report).
If we don't have an existing report for the property you will be given the opportunity to order a new report by comparing prices and report features and selecting one from our list of inspectors. At the time of purchase you can choose if you wish to resell the report, in which case it will be available for sale at a discount price for 30 days. At the end of this period you will receive money back from any copies sold via an automated credit card refund.
How much money can I earn back?
If you opt to resell a report you receive 25% of the original purchase price back for every copy sold. Sell 3 copies and you earn almost your entire money back e.g. 25% + 25% + 25% = 75%, continue to sell copies and you make a profit!
As an example:
- Buy a new report for $400
- Copies are sold at $300 (75% of original price)
- You receive $100 (25% of $400) back for every copy sold
- Sell 3 copies and you get back $100+$100+100 = $300 or most of your original purchase price back.
Do I have to share my report?
No, reselling a report is entirely optional. If you choose not to resell your report you still benefit from the easy shopping and competitive pricing that Compare Inspections offers but the report will not be listed for resale and won’t be seen by others on the site.
Must I choose to resell the report before I have seen it?
Yes. The Compare Inspections model is designed to remove any concerns about the reliability of reports and therefore avoids customers cherry-picking which reports to resell by ensuring this decision is made at the time of purchase.
Can more than one report at a time be available for resale for a property?
Yes. No restrictions are placed on how many reports can be sold against a property. Multiple reports including different types (e.g. building, pest, strata) and from different inspectors may exist. If you are planning to resell a report it’s therefore worth considering which type of report is most likely to appeal to future buyers.
How long are reports available for resale?
All reports have a 30 day resale period from the date of the inspection after which they can no longer be resold.
Is it better to buy a new report or a copy at a discount?
This is an individual decision. If a report already exists you have the convenience of buying it at a discount price and downloading straight away. However you may prefer a new report where you have the ability to choose your inspector and get a more recent inspection. More importantly you then have the option to resell the report and potentially reap greater savings than can be gained from an existing report.
Who’s responsible for the report?
When you buy a report you are entering into an agreement with the inspector and not Compare Inspections or any other customer that may have bought the report. This ensures that all reports, including copies, are fully supported by that inspector.
Do I need a login to the Compare Inspections website?
No, you can browse and purchase without a login and all reports will be sent to you via email. A login however will be created at the time of purchase for new customers and can be used to re-download reports, track copy sales or any money earned from resales.
If you are logged in and are eligible for volume discounts the pricing will be automatically adjusted to reflect the discounted price (see volume discounts in the payments section).
Which inspectors do you use?
Compare Inspections has chosen a small selection of well-established inspectors to service each region. The full list can be found by clicking Our Inspectors or you can view which inspectors service a particular postcode by choosing Order Inspection and requesting a new report.
Reports:
How can I be sure that existing reports are reliable?
Compare Inspections has gone to great lengths to ensure that all reports can be purchased with confidence:
- Only the listed inspectors may upload reports to the site
- Resell option is chosen before the report is received to avoid cherry-picking of reports
- All reports are supported by well-established inspection companies whose insurance details are checked annually.
Why must I include customer details if purchasing for someone else?
The inspector needs to know the final recipient of the report for insurance purposes.
Should I notify the Real Estate Agent that a report is available?
If you have nominated the report for resale and provided the Real Estate Agent's email address in the resale section the agent will automatically be notified by email once the report is uploaded to the site. Letting the agent know by other means is also advisable as this also aids the chance of resale.
What if I need a new report urgently or by a deadline date?
Customers are advised to contact Compare Inspections for urgent requests and we will establish which inspectors can fulfil the request. It should be noted that some inspectors charge additional fees for priority requests.
Alternatively customers can indicate a deadline date for when the report is required. Inspectors will take this into consideration when accepting the request but cannot guarantee delivery to that date as it is also dependent on gaining access to the property.
How do I know when my report is ready?
Once an inspector has compiled the report they will upload it to the Compare Inspections website which will trigger an email to be sent to all customers waiting for that report. Customers can also track the progress of a report, including sales, from their login dashboard and download it when available.
Do I own the report?
No, as per standard inspection terms and conditions the inspector maintains ownership of the report.
Do my personal details get shared with other customers?
No. At no time will your personal details be shared with other customers. Customers that have resold a report will only be aware of how many resales have been made and when.
Why can reports not be sold after 30 days?
This is the timeframe advised by insurance companies to minimise issues arising from old reports.
How much do reports cost?
The price of new reports is set by the individual inspectors and not Compare Inspections. Pricing is based on a range of criteria e.g. number of bathrooms, which the customer must answer when making a new report request.
Existing reports are sold at a set rate of 75% of the original list price. Prices are inclusive of GST and all transaction costs.
What if I have an unusual inspection requirement?
The Compare Inspections website has been designed to accommodate common requirements and additional services offered by inspectors. In the event this is insufficient, customers are advised to complete the request form as best they can and add further detail in the comments section. The inspector will contact you to discuss the requirement and amend or cancel the order if necessary. It should be noted that payment is only processed once the inspector confirms the request.
Which inspection type should I order?
A pre-purchase building inspection is intended to identify any significant building defects or problems such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards or a faulty roof to name a few. It is usually carried out before you exchange sale contracts so you can identify any problems with the property which, if left unchecked, could prove costly to repair.
However whilst a building inspection report should identify any visual damage that may have been caused by termites, it usually won't include the existence of termites or other timber destroying pests. If the property is susceptible to pest damage then it’s advisable to also get a pest inspection report. Many inspectors offer discount rates for combined building and pest reports leading to this type of report being very popular.
Properties belonging to a strata scheme are normally checked via a strata report which inspects the strata records to understand the financial position, levies, litigation, building works and special conditions. It is possible to also request a building inspection for this type of property but this is normally limited to inspecting and assessing the condition of the interior and immediate exterior of the unit being inspected.
What is included in a building inspection?
Most inspectors follow the Australian Standard (AS4349.1-2007) when conducting pre purchase building inspections. The purpose of this inspection is to identify major defects, the incidence of minor defects and safety hazards and provide a general assessment of the property at the time of the inspection.
It should be noted that the inspection is visual only and does not involve any cutting, dismantling, or moving of objects nor accessing areas that are concealed, obstructed or unsafe.
The inspection typically covers the following areas and structures within 30 metres of the main building:
• The interior
• The roof void
• The exterior
• The subfloor
• The roof exterior.
The inspection does not normally include electrical installations, gas fixtures and fittings or concealed plumbing nor will it cover mould (mildew) or non-wood decay fungi.
The report will highlight observations regarding the above and note any limitations imposed by weather and access that may have impacted the inspection. Rectification cost estimates are not part of the standard but many inspectors include them within their reports.
The above is merely a broad summary and therefore it is important to read the inspector’s terms and conditions to fully understand what is included and excluded within the inspection before purchasing a report.
What is included in a pest inspection?
Most inspectors follow the Australian Standard (AS4349.3-2010) when conducting pre purchase timber pest inspections. The purpose of this inspection is to identify evidence of or damage by timber pests, susceptibility of the building to timber pests and past and present treatment.
It should be noted that the inspection is visual only and does not involve any cutting, dismantling, or moving of objects nor accessing areas that are concealed, obstructed or unsafe.
The inspection typically covers the following areas and structures within 30 metres of the main building:
• The interior
• The roof void
• The exterior
• The subfloor
• The roof exterior
• Outbuildings and garden timbers, fences and paving
• Trees and stumps >100mm.
The inspection does not normally include the inside of walls, behind cupboards, furniture or furnishings.
The report will highlight observations regarding the above and note any limitations imposed by weather and access that may have impacted the inspection. Rectification cost estimates are not part of the standard but many inspectors include them within their reports.
The above is merely a broad summary and therefore it is important to read the inspector’s terms and conditions to fully understand what is included and excluded within the inspection before purchasing a report.
What is included in a strata inspection?
There are no Australian Standards for strata reports however a typical inspection would normally cover the following areas:
• Health of the strata’s Administration and Sinking funds
• Current, past and special levies
• Insurance, litigation and taxation
• Building works past, current and planned
• Defect claims and resident complaints
• Special conditions and notable matters.
It is important to read the inspector’s terms and conditions to fully understand what is included and excluded within the inspection before purchasing a report.
What is a combined inspection?
A combined inspection is a both a building and pest inspection and usually comes at a discount price to separate inspections. These reports may arrive as separate files due to different inspectors and formats used in the inspection.
Can I be sure the inspector is insured?
Mistakes can happen so it is very important to ensure your inspector is insured. Compare Inspections requests copies of inspector's insurance details at initial setup and upon expiry each year. Inspectors are required to ensure they are appropriately covered for the resale of reports and also to advise Compare Inspections if their insurance circumstances change throughout the year. As Compare Inspections can only periodically check inspectors to ensure their cover is up to date customers are advised to consider additional checks with the relevant inspector before purchasing a report.
Can I resell the building and pest reports from my combined inspection separately?
No, although this is being considered as a future enhancement.
Payments:
Can I only pay by credit card?
Yes, only payment using Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB credit cards are supported at this time. A 2% surcharge is also applied to AMEX and JCB purchases and is not reflected in the report resell price.
Are my credit card details stored online?
No. Compare Inspections does not hold credit card details and refunds for money back use only the purchase id, meaning card details do not need to be held or re-entered.
How do I know if I’m due money back?
The original purchaser will receive an email advising each time a report is resold. You will also receive an email advising when the resale period has ended (after 60 days) and any amount due back. In addition customers can login to their dashboard at any time and see all reports purchased, copies sold and payments made or due.
How and when do I receive money back?
To minimise payment transfers Compare Inspections waits until the report resale period has ended (after 30 days) and then performs one payment back to the original purchaser. The customer will be advised by email of the report expiring, any amount due and confirmation of payment.
If the money back is less than the original purchase amount an automatic credit card refund will occur. If greater than the original purchase amount a refund is not possible, so the customer will be asked via email to login to Compare Inspections and provide bank details for a money transfer. These details will be immediately deleted upon transfer.
Why must I enter my bank details for a refund over the original purchase amount?
Unfortunately credit card gateways will only allow refunds up to and not beyond the original purchase amount. In the event you have made a profit you will be required to provide your bank details online and they will be deleted immediately after the transfer has been processed.
How do I know I’ve been paid?
Customers will receive an email notifying them of money paid back either via automated credit card refund or via bank transfer. Alternatively they can login to their dashboard at any time and see the paid status alongside their reports.
Can I get a volume discount for regular report purchases?
Yes. Inspectors have the option to set their own volume discounts for new reports purchased in a 12 month period. Inspectors offering volume discounts, and their amounts, can be viewed on the price comparison screen. If you are logged in, prices are automatically adjusted to reflect any discounts you are eligible for.
How do I get a tax invoice for my report purchase?
A tax receipt will be sent with your report via email. In addition, all invoices are located online and can found by logging into your Compare Inspections account, clicking the report address on your dashboard and viewing the invoices section. Tax adjustment notes will also be located here to reflect refunds from copies sold.
Issues:
Why can’t I find any reports for the property address I’m searching?
First check that the address you have entered is correct. If no reports exist you can order a new report by following the on screen prompts.
The link I received in the email is incorrect or won’t work.
Please contact Compare Inspections to resolve this issue.
No reports being displayed for my new report request.
Please check that the postcode entered is correct and read the comments on the request screen to ensure it is in an area supported by Compare Inspections. If the problem persists please contact Compare Inspections.
What if I’m not happy with the report?
Please contact the inspector directly in the first instance and then Compare Inspections if the issue cannot be resolved.
The report I received is for the wrong property.
Please recheck the property details you provided. If the report matches the details you provided then unfortunately we cannot offer a refund. However, if the report is for a different property, please contact Compare Inspections and we will try to resolve the issue.
What if I can’t download the report?
Please contact Compare Inspections to resolve this problem.
Can I download the report again if I lose it?
Yes. All your purchases are available on your login dashboard and can be downloaded as many times as you wish.