Building Inspections
Whether you are a landlord looking to lease your property, a vendor preparing to sell your home or a buyer purchasing a new property, obtaining a building inspection report is essential for understanding the condition of the property.
A building inspection, also known as a pre-purchase or pre-sale building inspection, is used to identify the major and minor defects and safety hazards associated with the property at the time of the inspection. The overall condition of the building is also compared to similar constructed buildings of approximately the same period. Such information can be extremely important when valuing your home, negotiating on a purchase or avoiding letting issues.
Most building inspections are conducted in accordance with the Australian Standard AS4349.1-2007 meaning they largely address the same areas and report on similar items. With Compare Inspections however you can also easily check the inspector’s qualifications, review sample reports as styles can vary greatly and be assured that insurance details have been checked.
What’s included in a building inspection:
Interior of the building
- Ceilings
- Walls
- Floors
- Windows
- Doors
- Stairs
- Kitchen - Bench tops, Cupboards, Sink & taps, Tiles
- Bathroom - Toilet cistern & pan, Bath, Shower, Taps & sink, Vanity, Tiles
- Laundry - Tub/Cabinet, Ventilation, Taps
- Roof Space - Roof Coverings, Roof Framing, Sarking, Party Wall, Insulation
Exterior of the building
- Walls
- Chimney
- Stairs
- Balconies, verandas, patios & decks
- Eaves, fascias & barges
- Sub-floor space - Floor Timbers, Bearers & Joists, Piers
- Roof Exterior - Roof, Tiles, Sheet roofing, Valleys, Flashings
Site up to 30m from the main dwelling
- Detached car accommodation - Garage, Carport
- Retaining Walls
- Paths & Driveway
- Steps
- Fencing
- Surface Water
What’s not included:
A building inspection report is not an all-encompassing report dealing with every aspect of the property. It is a reasonable attempt to identify any major problems visible with the structure of the property at the time of the inspection. Items not typically covered by a building inspection include:
- Visual only inspection - it should be noted that the inspection does not involve any cutting, dismantling, or moving of objects nor accessing areas that are concealed, obstructed or unsafe
- Trades – electrical installations, gas fixtures and fittings or concealed plumbing
- Mould (mildew) or non-wood decay fungi
- Inspection of areas without suitable access – minimum measurements exist for access holes, crawl space and ladder heights
- Rectification costs – unless specifically stated as offered as part of the service
Please Note – inspections of apartments/units are limited to the internal of the apartment only and do not include any common property areas such as external walls, roof, basement or paths and gardens.
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 in the inspection before you proceed.
