Buying a house is expensive, and you probably have to save up and use some of your savings to get it done. Since it’s such a huge decision for you and your loved ones, it’s best to ensure that you get an inspection prior to moving in. Thorough building and pest inspections are crucial so that you know the home is pest-free, termite-free, and a good product to buy.
Overall, building inspections should be done by a fully-trained building inspector. They can search for minor defects and major safety hazards, giving the information to you and the real estate agent.
Why Do You Need Pre-Purchase Building Inspections in Melbourne?
Before you buy something at the store, you check to ensure that it works and is worth the cost. The same is true for investing money into a property. It’s vital to get a pre-purchase building inspection in Melbourne to make sure that your home isn’t a hideaway for pests. Appropriate building inspectors can perform multiple separate inspections to ensure that there are no minor defects that might pose a health risk to you.
What Areas Are Inspected During Building and Pest Inspections Melbourne?
Building inspectors often do property inspections to help you make an informed decision. Here are the areas they inspect:
- Interiors – Kitchen/bathroom fixtures, tiling, walls, windows, doors, railings, fireplaces, roof voids, and ceilings
- Exteriors – Gutters, footings, soffits, subfloor, and roof exterior
- Grounds – Drainage, retaining walls, steps, walkways, driveways, pergolas, and fences
- Structural – Patio, foundation, deck, basement, attic, chimney, balcony, and garage
The Advantages of a Pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspection
Building inspections have many advantages for real estate agents and homeowners. You want to ensure that there are no major defects or termite damage, and your building and pest inspector can provide thorough inspection reports to ensure that you know what’s in the home. The advantages of doing this include:
- Identify structural defects – Professionals stage inspections to locate any building defects or structural damage that may cause issues later when you’ve settled into the home.
- Identify hidden issues – Such a service tells you the hidden issues you might not notice yourself, such as leaking and faulty drains.
- Option to negotiate your cost – Once the flaws have been pointed out, you may use them to negotiate for a lower purchase price of the home.
- Peace of mind – inspecting lets you know everything about the future home that the seller or broker might not have mentioned. Knowing the good and bad ensures that you know if it’s a good buy for you.
Types of Building and Pest Inspection Services
There are various home inspection services you can request. These include:
Pre-purchase Inspections
Homes can look great outside but have underlying issues that you only learn about after buying. That’s why you should get the building inspected before buying. While a licensed builder should do their best, a further investigation from experienced inspectors shows you any leaks, hidden defects, structural damage, and pest infestations. You learn how much it might cost to fix the problems and get a pest report you can show the current seller.
New Building Inspection
Before settling in the new home, you need to receive a building inspection. Often, buyers are in a hurry to settle down, and they forget about the hidden problems. Later, those issues come to light, and you can’t call the builder to fix them. Don’t make this mistake; get the building inspected and receive quality reports.
Vendor Building Report
It’s ideal to get the building inspected before listing it. You can identify and fix problems before letting the buyers know about them. Plus, you can sell the property at better prices because you repaired the issues in a timely manner.
Timber Pest Inspections
This type of inspection involves a visual check of the property to determine if there’s termite activity or a current infestation. During the inspection, a quality building and pest inspector also looks at the existing conditions that might cause an infestation later.
Latest Equipment and Tools
Building consultants often get to the property on the same day they’re called and use the latest tools/equipment. These include:
- Moisture meter
- Thermal imaging
- Borescopes
- Probes and levels
- Pressure applications
- Tapper
- Length measurements
The Building Inspection Process
Whether you’re the buyer or seller, building inspections often have the same process for completion. The inspection time can vary based on whether you’ve combined building and pest inspections, and you usually get a verbal report. Inspectors follow the Australian Standard at all times.
When you schedule your appointment, an expert shows up on time to examine the area. Normal inspections take up to 60 minutes to complete, depending on the age, condition, and size of the home.
While examining its structure, they check the interiors, exteriors, and even excess ground space. This includes the sub-floors, floors, windows, doors, patios, driveway, pool, fence, roof, walls, and everything else.
During the timber inspection, the expert examines the property for current or past infestations of wood pests or anything that might result in an infestation. Thermal imaging devices can find underlying moisture problems, too.
After a thorough examination, the expert provides you with a written report. This may even be sent to the real estate agents and settlement agents.
The Building Inspection Report
After a thorough examination of the area, the inspector creates a comprehensive pest inspection report that lists the findings and includes photos. It tells you if there are any:
- Leaks
- Weak water pressure
- Collapsing or weak structures
- Damaged footings
- Pest infestations
- Faulty drainage and stormwater systems
- Expose cover-up work
- Fire hazards
- Timber-framing faults
- Structural damage
- Faulty roof plumbing
- Leaks in the rooftop
Why Choose a Building Inspector
Buying a property is a big commitment, so it’s crucial to have the best building and pest inspectors. They can check the entire area for any issues before you buy your new house. Homeowners are sure to appreciate a licensed building inspector because they have professional indemnity insurance and follow Australian standards for building and pest inspection.
Conclusion
Building pest inspectors in Melbourne have the industry experience necessary to determine entry points to the property. They also reduce the risk of costly defects and come at a competitive price. If you want to avoid significant problems for your property, choose an inspector that uses the latest technology.