Are you on the market for a new home or apartment? Given the enormity of the financial decision you’re about to make, it only makes sense to go the extra mile in making sure the estate you’re buying is one that you wouldn’t regret buying. This is where independent building and pest inspectors come in by using 2 inspectors experienced in their own fields, a building inspector & timber pest inspector.
Without a doubt, detailed building and pest inspection reports provide you with the necessary information that will help you weigh your purchasing decision. With a keen eye for defects, good building and pest inspectors know a mediocre house when they see one and they can help you avoid one via the property inspection reports.
Absolute Basic Requirements
The experts you choose for the job have to be one that is qualified for the job. That means he or she has to be a registered builder & timber pest qualified. With that, you have to ask for their license details as part of your background check. In addition to this, they have to reassure you that their report format and content complies with the Australian Standard (AS 4349.1 & 4349.3). Also, they need to carry insurance e.g. professional indemnity as it provides you protection if you deem that the inspector has been negligent of the job given to them and you wish to take action.
What Separates Good Inspectors from the Bad
These aren’t all you need to look into as you’re getting a building and a pest inspector to assess a property you’re planning to buy. Here are a few more qualities you’d likely wish they have:
Knowledgeable
Building and pest inspectors who have been doing the rounds in the locale for years are likely to have an intimate knowledge of the problems that most local houses have. He or she would know about building types as well as best practices in construction that’ll result in structures that are truly built that withstand the local weather and ground conditions. Having sufficient knowledge on endemic pests will also help them know what to look for in residences built and sold in the local area.
More importantly, they’ll know if buildings (and outbuildings) meet council specifications and if a residential structure meets building code.
Accessible
Building and timber pest inspectors should be who can provide you information about the inspection report you’ve just received. Indeed, their service doesn’t end with the actual property inspection because the subsequent report has to be one that can easily be comprehended by the client.
In addition, he or she has to be approachable enough that you can informally ask them about repair costs and if a certain damage is a deal breaker or not. A good way to gauge this level of accessibility is if you are permitted to the actual inspection and if the inspector is willing enough to take the time to accommodate you and your concerns regarding the report.
Go the Extra Mile
Besides the usual, an inspector may offer extra in their service like a video inspection or include photos in the final report. A building & pest inspection should always be carried out by 2 inspectors specialized in their own field.
In the end, these additional services should make your inspection reports even more worth it than it already is.
Don’t Be Scared to Ask
Buying a house comes with its fair share of risks and the goal is to minimise those risks as much as possible. Naturally, you’d want to get into real estate knowing what deal you’re getting into as you buy a house. That may only be possible with the aid of a capable building and pest inspector. Finding one is as simple as asking prospects a couple of questions.
For one, try to find out what tools they’ll use on-site. You’ll likely find them using moisture detectors and sounding devices as these are common in most building and pest inspector’s arsenal. Try to ask what each one does and what they check to get a rough idea of what gets assessed during the actual inspection. Termatrac for live termites present is also a must for the timber pest inspector.
Do ask about the common issues they find in the houses located in your area, too. Asking for qualitative information will help you determine how well they know the job and how experienced they are in picking out issues in pre-existing properties. It also wouldn’t hurt if you ask about how long the inspection will usually take them.
Lastly, it wouldn’t hurt if you inquire about the inspector’s background and how they trained to get into the industry. This question should also give you a good idea of how long they’ve been working in the field as a building or pest inspector. A minimum of 10 years in the industry for the building inspector and minimum 5 years for the timber pest inspector performing not only inspections but termite treatment also.
Understand the Limitations That Come with the Job
As much as you’d want perfect, comprehensive reports on a property you’re prospecting, know that the one making the report is human. Standard building inspections are, therefore, not a fail-safe method. In addition to that, typical building inspections aren’t intrusive by nature and are mostly based on visual observation. Meaning, they can only cover the areas they are able to access and see.
With that said, some home sellers or property vendors take this as a chance to hide issues that a home may have. Although they’re asked to make life as easy as possible for the inspectors to do their jobs efficiently, some will deliberately bar access to certain areas and even lock certain doors. As a buyer, you should take this behaviour as a red flag.
A Qualified Building and Pest Inspector Near You
As excited as you are in purchasing a new house, hold onto your horses until capable property inspectors have taken a look at your property. It’s your best shot at making sure you won’t get bitten by the remorse bug in the end. And if it’s an expert building inspector and timber pest inspector that you need, you need not look further as we are here to fill that need. Call us to see why we’re Melbourne’s leading independent building and timber pest inspectors!