Building Inspections are required in several situations. The most common are:
- Pre-Purchase Building Inspections
- Real Estate Agent & Vendor Inspections
- Termite & Pest Inspections
A building inspection is essential if you plan to buy a property. But who can you trust to perform a building inspection? In this article, we will explore five of the most important things to check before engaging a Building Inspector.
Contents
Inspectors are licensed builders
Currently the building inspection industry is unregulated in South Australia meaning an inspector can be unlicensed. This means pretty much anyone can download a checklist from the web and start offering inspection services.
Luckily, there is a group of professionals who are licensed – Builders. At Select Building Inspections, we licensed Builders and are more than qualified to inspect your property. Having had years of experience we are ideally placed to inspect your property.
Same day Report
When contacting a building inspector, check how quickly they will produce the report. In the house buying process, every minute counts. It is often not practical to be waiting several days or a week for an inspection report to come through. Banks, insurance companies, and solicitors are all wanting to get a copy to proceed with their work. At Select Building Inspections, we always produce the inspection report on the same day. Not only is this helpful for the client, but also ensures the report is written while the house is still “fresh in the mind” of the Inspector. Filling in the form at a later day risks the possibility of confusion between houses and inaccurate recording.
What is Inspected?
The Building Inspector will check many items relating to the property. Some of the most common areas checked include:
- Roof space and roof exterior – the Inspector will check for damaged roof sheets or tiles, and any leaking or damaged roof plumbing.
- Roof frame – will be checked for bowing, splitting, and moisture damage.
- Interior and external walls – inspectors are experts in spotting hidden problems and issues that could lead to structural damage if not resolved.
- Internal and external doors, windows, and frames – apart from causing cold drafts or leaks, movement in the doors and windows may indicate more serious issues with the foundations.
- Cabinets – the Inspector will be checking for damage and issues with fitting.
- Underfloor – although hidden in regular daily use, a look under the floor will reveal big problems early.
- Damp problems – small areas of damp can quickly develop into much more significant issues if not caught early.
- Leaks – may be the cause of damp or may not be noticeable at all. Our experts are great at sniffing them out.
- Gutters and downpipes – moss and dirt quickly build up in gutters. If they have not been cleaned for a long time, there may be water-related issues when it rains. Or they may simply be coming towards the end of their life.
- Retaining walls – early signs or subsistence should be resolved at once.
- Safety hazards – potential safety hazards will be spotted early, for example, unsafe electrics, trip hazards, weak staircases etc.
- Non-structural issues – e.g. brickwork, plasterwork, or old structures/extensions.
Insurance
Testimonials
In the past, you would ask a friend or neighbour for a recommendation for a service such as ours. With the advent of technology, you no longer even need to do that. You can read all of our 5* ratings on Google maps.
