What’s involved in a building and pest inspection, how much does it cost, and is it really that important to get one done when you buy a property? Buying a home or investment property is likely to be one of the biggest investments most of us will ever make. And yet, some people are willing to let it all come crumbling down because of an invader that’s only a few millimetres tall!
The process of building inspection
A Building Inspection is a visual inspection of the property that will identify any major defects, the incidence of minor defects and safety hazards associated with the property at the time of the inspection. The inspection will report on the following where possible:
All Our inspection reports include photographs as well as recommendations on how to bring the identified areas up to the Australian Standard. Some of the most common defects found during a Building Inspection include:
Some examples of potential safety hazards are: collapsing balconies, unsafe staircases, illegal or unsafe handrails.
Termites
Termites are nasty little pests that can carry on undetected for months or even years, wreaking havoc with the foundations of your building before you figure out they’re even there. The average repair cost for termite damage to a house is approximately $7,000, although we’ve all heard horror stories when homeowners have been forced to part out with tens of thousands of dollars to rectify a termite problem.
Similarly, structural issues can cause huge financial headaches – and building issues can be present in both new and old homes. So, when you’re in the market to buy, it makes total sense to have a building and pest inspections by the experts as an essential part of your due diligence process.
For most property owners, buying a home is the biggest financial investment they will make in their life, and while financial and mortgage advice, location decisions and many other factors are largely researched, it can often be forgotten or overlooked how important it is to hire an expert to undertake Building and Pest Inspections before making a final decisions and signing any dotted lines.
Buying a new home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Although the process is very exciting it can become quite overwhelming. While the home you have fallen in love with may appear to be just what you’re looking for, how can you be sure there aren’t potentially serious issues which can make your investment in your future a costly one?
