BUILDING REPORT BEFORE YOU BUY BEFORE YOU BID
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make. Just as you would have a mechanic inspect a vehicle before purchasing it, it’s wise to hire an independent building inspector for a pre-purchase inspection. Whether you’re buying a family home or an investment property, a building inspection ensures you make a fully informed decision.
- Comprehensive property inspections
- Detailed building report same day or FREE*
- We liase with the agent on your behalf
The Building Inspection Process: What's Involved?
The building inspection process begins with an inspector arriving at the property to perform a comprehensive examination of all accessible areas. The inspector’s objective is to identify any underlying issues or damage. Generally, the inspection will cover the following areas:
- Interior of the building
- The exterior of the building
- Roof space
- Under-floor space
- Roof exterior (subject to health and safety regulations)
- Garage, carport and garden shed
- Separate laundry or toilet
- Small retaining walls (ie. non-structural)
- Steps, fencing, paths and driveways
Why Get A Building Inspection?
The purpose of a building inspection is to alert you to any significant damage, such as structural issues or major defects, that could impact the integrity of the property. This inspection should always be conducted by a professional. A qualified building inspector possesses the expertise to identify common defects and faults and can provide guidance on their implications.
However, it’s crucial to seek additional advice from relevant professionals like electricians, engineers, plumbers, or carpenters to further evaluate the severity of any defects and estimate repair costs. In severe cases, underlying issues could potentially require substantial investment from the property buyer to rectify.
Attending The Inspection
We recommend that you are present towards the end of the inspection so that your inspector can point out any areas of concern and answer any questions you may have. In conjunction with a standard building inspection we generally recommend carrying out a timber pest inspection (Termites) on the property as well. These often go hand in hand to ensure the property is safe from existing termite pest damage or infestation.
Our experienced inspectors are licensed to perform pre-purchase pest inspections using the latest equipment including thermal imaging technology and moisture meters to detect the presence of termites.
Ask us about getting a combined building and pest inspection and save off the total inspection cost.
Pre-purchase or Pre-Auction Report
A Pre-purchase Building Inspection Report (or Pre-Auction Building Report prior to auction) is a comprehensive document that addresses structural defects or damage, conditions conducive to structural damage, and any defects in secondary and finishing elements of the property.
The building and pest inspection report will also identify any areas the inspector was unable to access during the inspection. Photographs and Video may be included to highlight defects or areas of concern observed by the inspector. You can view our gallery from previous inspections to see some of our findings.
The Building Inspection Report includes a description of the property and the materials used in its construction in accordance with Australian Standards AS 4349.1. It is typically conducted before purchasing a property and is recommended to be a condition of your contract. This can ensure you are satisfied with the inspection results and can sometimes influence the overall purchase price of the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our store as the property may already have a completed building & pest report!
If you’re interested in a property and looking to make an offer or prepare for an auction, we offer comprehensive building inspection reports. We may already have conducted a building and pest report available for purchase, providing detailed insights into the condition of the home to help you make informed decisions. ⭐COMPLETED REPORTS ⭐
Our building inspection services include:
- Pre-purchase property inspection
- Combined building and pest inspection
- Termite inspection
- Timber pest inspection
- Asbestos inspection
- PCI Practical Completion inspection
- New-build inspections
- Pool safety Fence Compliance Inspections
- Special purpose inspections
MAJOR DEFECT/SAFETY HAZARD: defects refer to any damage or deviation in the primary components of a building that could render the structure unusable. Such defects are severe enough to potentially cause the destruction or collapse of all or part of the building.
Major components of a building are essentially any load-bearing elements, such as:
- Foundations
- Footings
- Floors – Purlins/Joists
- Walls
- Beams
- Joints
- Rafters – Under purlins
- Columns
- Roof Trusses
- Fire Safety Systems
- Waterproofing
Common examples of major defects include cracks and damage to the foundation, floors, slabs, and walls.
A structural defect is any fault or deviation from the intended structural performance of a building, which can be classified as either major or minor.
Common examples of structural issues include:
- Exposed gaps between the walls
- Walls and ceiling cracks
- Uneven floors
- Warped ceilings
- Crumbling concrete
Read more about how to identify minor and major structural defects to your property.
An uneven floor can vary in severity and doesn’t always require immediate action. However, it might result from issues like cracked floor joists, termite damage, or insufficient subfloors.
We recommend consulting a professional contractor or structural engineer for expert advice on resolving this issue.
The short answer is yes!
Many potential buyers mistakenly believe that a newly built property that has passed the required staged inspections by a certifier must be flawless. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case—council inspectors and building certifiers only ensure building code compliance and do not assess the quality of materials or workmanship.
This is why it’s crucial for property buyers to hire an independent inspector. An independent inspector will thoroughly check a new property for quality of workmanship and materials, ensure construction meets acceptable standards, and identify any defects.
View some of the common issues found in newly constructed homes.
If you’re interested in a property and looking to make an offer or prepare for an auction, we offer comprehensive building inspection reports. We may already have conducted a building and pest report available for purchase, providing detailed insights into the condition of the home to help you make informed decisions.
The cost of a building inspection depends on the size of the property and the type of property being inspected. i.e. a large acreage home will attract a different price to an apartment, townhouse or a Queenslander-style home on stilts.
Also if you’re looking to get additional inspection services such as a pest inspection or dilapidation report then you are looking at extra costs.
We offer competitive prices when it comes to our inspection services, and any client opting for a combined building and pest inspection can save off the total cost.
View more information about our inspection costs here
Ideally, you should arrange a building inspection before entering into a contract of sale. This allows you to gather all the facts about the property’s condition before making an offer. However, in today’s fast-moving market, this can be challenging.
It has become common for buyers to schedule a building inspection as soon as their initial offer is accepted and they enter into a contract. It’s crucial to include a clause in your contract stating that the sale is “subject to building and pest inspection.” This way, if a significant structural issue or costly problem is found, you can still withdraw from the sale. A solicitor or conveyancer can help you word this correctly.
Depending on the agreement between the parties, the building and pest inspection should be conducted within 2 to 5 days of the offer being accepted.
If you are buying at auction, you should arrange for a building and pest inspection before the auction day. If you are the successful bidder, your purchase is likely to be unconditional.
We often receive questions about whether it is the buyer’s or seller’s responsibility to arrange and pay for the building inspection.
Generally, it is the buyer’s responsibility to organize and cover the cost of a building and pest inspection for any property they are considering. This is a crucial part of the due diligence process before moving forward with the purchase.
However, there is a growing trend of pre-sale property inspections, where sellers choose to identify potential issues with their property before listing it on the market to avoid unexpected surprises. In these cases, the seller would bear the inspection cost.
Leading Building Inspector Network are one of the largest providers in Australia, providing a full range of professional building and pest inspection services in the following locations:
Queensland
- Brisbane
- North Lakes
New South Wales
- Sydney
- Blacktown
- Central Coast
- Taree
South Australia
Adelaide
- Riverland
- Murray Bridge
- Gawler
- Fleurieu Peninsula
Victoria
- Melbourne
- Shepparton
Book a Building & Pest Inspection Report now!
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Same Day or FREE
A property purchase is time-sensitive, so we strive to schedule your inspection for the next day after you call. Furthermore, our inspectors aim to deliver your report within the same day of completing the inspection.
Award Winning Reports
Our advanced reporting software makes it simple to read and navigate reports, featuring high-quality photos and videos. This ensures you receive clear, detailed information about your property inspection. Experience the ease and clarity of our innovative reporting system.
