Residential Building Inspection Customer Information

Here is some important consumer information you need to know.

Buying a home may be the biggest financial decision you will ever make, so it is essential you make an informed decision by getting building inspectors to survey the structure of the house. Knowing as much as possible about the condition of the property before you make the purchasing decision will help you avoid excessive additional costs, which could cripple you financially. The best way of avoiding this is to get a pre-purchase residential building inspection and report from experienced building inspectors.



What is a pre-purchase residential building inspection report?

Our pre-purchase inspections give you a detailed written house inspection report detailing its condition compared to a similar property of the same age that has been kept in reasonably good condition. It will tell you about:


  1. any existing major structural defects;
  2. other significant defects such as rising damp, movement through load-bearing walls, poor site drainage and foundations;
  3. potential safety hazards; and,
  4. various minor & operational type defects.

    5. ...just to name a few.

    Our pre-purchase residential building inspections are usually carried out prior to signing a contract of sale so that you are informed of any defects which may be costly to repair. Should you wish to sign a contract prior to a building inspection it is recommended you contact a conveyancer in order to insert a building inspections clause that suits you the purchaser as opposed to the vendor.


    A pest inspection report is also highly recommended to determine the existence of active termites and/or wood borers. While the building inspection report will comment on visual damage that may have been caused by termites, it will usually not include info on the existence of termites to more concealed areas


    Why do I need a residential building inspection?

    There are many reasons why you should obtain a pre-purchase property inspection. Here are the most important.


    1. You will know in advance if there are any significant defects.
    2. You can use the information to negotiate on the price of the property because someone will have to pay for the repair works.
    3. You will receive an itemised list of defects with descriptions and photo’s from a Registered Building Practitioner about the significant problems and how your property will be affected over time.
    4. You will be able to contact the inspector after reading the report to discuss its findings.

    Who can do a pre-purchase building inspection?

    Unfortunately, anyone can do a residential building inspection in Melbourne. It is therefore important that you use a professional organisation with the following attributes;


    Ensure your chosen building inspector:

    1. Is a Registered Building Practitioner in the ‘Unlimited’ category of residential building.
    2. Is a Master Builder.
    3. Has professional indemnity insurance.
    4. Can provide you proof of all of the above.
    5. Has at least 10 years experience as an inspector incl report writing. Anyone can tell you they have 30 years experience in the game – but what does that really mean?

    What is included in the report?

    The purpose of pre-purchase residential building inspectionsis to provide sound advice regarding the condition of a property at the time of the inspection. The main priorities of the report include;


    1. Major defects, including major structural defects – this is a defect of significance where repair is required to avoid unsafe conditions, loss of use, or further deterioration of the property.
    2. Minor defects – building inspectors will generally give an overall impression of the extent of minor defects.
    3. Any major defect that is an urgent safety hazard.
    4. Other safety hazards.
    5. Items that may require further invasive investigation.

    Each report will vary as the properties inspected vary. Melbourne Property Inspections reporting structure is one-of-a-kind, and is tailored to suit the specific property. Please view a sample report on the web site.


    What areas are inspected?

    All areas accessible to the inspector at the time of inspection.These include;


    1. Interior and exterior of the building
    2. Roof space and roof exterior
    3. Under-floor space (if applicable and accessible)
    4. The property within 30m of the building including;
      • garage, carport and garden shed
      • separate laundry or toilet
      • retaining walls over 700mm high
      • steps
      • fencing
      • surface water drainage
      • storm-water run-off
      • paths & driveways

    A detailed list of the above “areas inspected” and sample reports of our residential building inspections in Melbourne are included here.


    IMPORTANT

    A residential building inspection report should include enough information to make you aware of the property's condition and identify any significant problems.


    Factors affecting the report.

    There are certain conditions you should be aware of that will affect the final report. These include;


    • Problems that are difficult to detect due to weather or other conditions such as leaks
    • The information you provide the consultant
    • The specific areas of the consultant's expertise as specified in the report
    • Problems that have been deliberately covered up to make an area appear problem free

    IMPORTANT

    It may be difficult to detect leaks and other problems if services such as water haven't been used for some time. For example, if the shower hasn't been used recently, leaks or dampness may not be obvious.


    Choosing a Building Inspector


    Building inspectors do not require a licence to carry out pre-purchase building inspections in Melbourne. It is therefore imperative that a building inspector:


    1. Is a Registered Building Practitioner in the ‘Unlimited’ category of residential building. Other registered building practitioners such as those registered in bricklaying or demolition will not have the expertise of one registered in this ‘Unlimited’ category.
    2. Is a Master Builder.
    3. Has professional indemnity insurance.

    What questions should I ask?

    Here is a list of questions you should ask the organisation you would like to contract for a residential building inspection.


    What is your registered building practitioners licence number (remember - in the Unlimited category of residential building)? Check the “Building Authority” website to check his/her qualification.


    What are your qualifications and experience? Ensure at least 10 years as a pre-purchase inspector to weed out the new guys without enough experience.


    How long have you been carrying out pre-purchase building inspections? Ensure at least 10 years as a pre-purchase inspector to weed out the new guys without enough experience.


    Do you have current cover for professional indemnity insurance? Provide certificate of currency.


    Who is the insurer?


    Are you a member of an industry association? Who are they and what is your member number? If yes, do you follow their Code of Conduct? Keep in mind there are guys out there using their car license and phone numbers as their membership numbers!


    Do you have any set procedures for handling disputes or complaints?


    Can you give me references or contact details of three clients with similar properties?


    What will the report cover and what format do you use?


    Can I see a sample report?


    How long before I can have the completed report?


    Can you call me with a verbal report on the day? Will this cost any extra? Can I attend the inspection?


    Do you follow the Australian Standard (AS4349.1 - 2007) for the building inspection?


    Are you independent of the vendor or the Real Estate Agency?


Additional questions?

Please contact us on 1300 88 65 25 if you have any further questions.