At this point you have probably spent a lot of time, energy and money to get to this stage of the purchasing process. It may be tempting to save yourself a few hundred dollars as the house you are putting in an offer on seems structurally sound. However, building inspections are a MUST and could save you thousands of dollars in maintenance and rectification costs. Reasons you should get a building inspection include:
Identification of Structural Defects
For insurance reasons you are not allowed to go in the roof loft prior to purchasing the property, and even if you could, would you know what to look for? Many structural issues may not be easily identifiable to the naked eye. Additionally, for building work over the value of $20,000 undertaken in the last six years you may still be covered by a structural defects warranty.
Identification of Safety Hazards
The identification of safety hazards will protect you and your family. Whether it be loose balustrades or unsafe blind cords, it is imperative to know the safety hazards around your home. In most instances hazards are relatively easy and inexpensive to fix, saving you thousands in the future and a lot of potential heartache.
Identification of Possible Health hazards, and recommendation of suitable action
Many health hazards may exist within your home, such as asbestos or mould. Perth has often been referred to as the asbestos capital of the world, and any home constructed prior to December 31st 2003 may be affected.
Identification of possible electrical faults, and recommendation of suitable action
Only a licensed electrician can issue an electrical safety certificate. However, a building inspector may bring to your attention areas such as loose wiring, inadequate clearances or issues surrounding the RCD's and smoke alarms. As an example, old or poorly installed ceiling downlights are thought to cause at least one house fire every week in Western Australia.
Termites may be small, but they can cause a world of damage
You will need a skilled inspector to conduct a thorough search to find the presence of termites. The most recent figures released indicate that the average repair cost for termite damage to a home is $7,000, and that at least 1 in 4 homes in Australia will be affected by termites. Make sure they are stopped before it is too late.
If you are purchasing a property with a pool, make sure it is safe
Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death for children aged 0-5. Over the past five years 16 toddlers have drowned in Western Australia. For every drowning death, it is estimated that 10 children are admitted to hospital following a near-drowning incident (160 children over the past five years). In WA, domestic swimming pools are the most common site in which drowning for children aged 0-5 occurs with 94% of drowning incidents in and around the home. Of the 94%, 31% occurred at a relative or neighbour’s home. A pool owner/occupier who fails to comply with a defects/compliance notice risks the commencement of legal proceedings, a maximum penalty of $5,000 and a penalty of $250 for each day until the barrier is again deemed to comply. It pays to get pool barriers fixed by the seller, saving you money and a lot of potential heartache.
Use a building report to develop a maintenance schedule
Some items may not be deemed serious enough at the time of inspection to require the seller to fix them, although they should still be considered as part of a maintenance schedule. For example, why not attend to that area of silicone that needs replacing rather than let it become a structural (moisture) problem?
Identification of Structural Defects
For insurance reasons you are not allowed to go in the roof loft prior to purchasing the property, and even if you could, would you know what to look for? Many structural issues may not be easily identifiable to the naked eye. Additionally, for building work over the value of $20,000 undertaken in the last six years you may still be covered by a structural defects warranty.
Identification of Safety Hazards
The identification of safety hazards will protect you and your family. Whether it be loose balustrades or unsafe blind cords, it is imperative to know the safety hazards around your home. In most instances hazards are relatively easy and inexpensive to fix, saving you thousands in the future and a lot of potential heartache.
Identification of Possible Health hazards, and recommendation of suitable action
Many health hazards may exist within your home, such as asbestos or mould. Perth has often been referred to as the asbestos capital of the world, and any home constructed prior to December 31st 2003 may be affected.
Identification of possible electrical faults, and recommendation of suitable action
Only a licensed electrician can issue an electrical safety certificate. However, a building inspector may bring to your attention areas such as loose wiring, inadequate clearances or issues surrounding the RCD's and smoke alarms. As an example, old or poorly installed ceiling downlights are thought to cause at least one house fire every week in Western Australia.
Termites may be small, but they can cause a world of damage
You will need a skilled inspector to conduct a thorough search to find the presence of termites. The most recent figures released indicate that the average repair cost for termite damage to a home is $7,000, and that at least 1 in 4 homes in Australia will be affected by termites. Make sure they are stopped before it is too late.
If you are purchasing a property with a pool, make sure it is safe
Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death for children aged 0-5. Over the past five years 16 toddlers have drowned in Western Australia. For every drowning death, it is estimated that 10 children are admitted to hospital following a near-drowning incident (160 children over the past five years). In WA, domestic swimming pools are the most common site in which drowning for children aged 0-5 occurs with 94% of drowning incidents in and around the home. Of the 94%, 31% occurred at a relative or neighbour’s home. A pool owner/occupier who fails to comply with a defects/compliance notice risks the commencement of legal proceedings, a maximum penalty of $5,000 and a penalty of $250 for each day until the barrier is again deemed to comply. It pays to get pool barriers fixed by the seller, saving you money and a lot of potential heartache.
Use a building report to develop a maintenance schedule
Some items may not be deemed serious enough at the time of inspection to require the seller to fix them, although they should still be considered as part of a maintenance schedule. For example, why not attend to that area of silicone that needs replacing rather than let it become a structural (moisture) problem?
Choosing an Inspector
So how should you decide upon choosing the right inspector?
Firstly, do not engage an inspector based upon a real estate agents referral. This represents a conflict of interest as the inspector may feel a certain amount of loyalty towards the real estate agent and feel pressured into submitting a favourable report.
Firstly, do not engage an inspector based upon a real estate agents referral. This represents a conflict of interest as the inspector may feel a certain amount of loyalty towards the real estate agent and feel pressured into submitting a favourable report.
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You should also check an inspectors qualifications and ask if they have professional indemnity insurance. Generally an inspector will not be able to acquire professional indemnity insurance if they are deemed under qualified to conduct the inspections. Other considerations include:
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Types of Inspections
Building Inspection
The Australian Standard for pre-purchase building inspections has scope for a comprehensive building inspection and a structural building inspection. Unless you are planning major renovations or are not concerned about the ongoing maintenance of the property, we recommend obtaining a comprehensive building inspection. A brief explanation of the two is as follows:
Comprehensive Building Inspection
Any damage, distortion, warping, twisting, water penetration, damp related damage, material deterioration, item not operating as intended, incomplete works, or any improper installation of items should be reported on. You should know your property inside-out upon receiving this report.
Structural Building Inspection
The purpose of the pre-purchase structural building inspection is to provide advice to a prospective purchaser or other interested party regarding the condition of the structure of the property.
Timber Pest Inspection
Although commonly referred to as a termite or 'white ant' inspection, this inspection should also include an investigation into the presence of borers or timber decay within your home.
Pool Barrier Safety Inspection
This inspection is a check for compliance against the Australian Standard for Swimming Pool and Spa Barriers.
The Australian Standard for pre-purchase building inspections has scope for a comprehensive building inspection and a structural building inspection. Unless you are planning major renovations or are not concerned about the ongoing maintenance of the property, we recommend obtaining a comprehensive building inspection. A brief explanation of the two is as follows:
Comprehensive Building Inspection
Any damage, distortion, warping, twisting, water penetration, damp related damage, material deterioration, item not operating as intended, incomplete works, or any improper installation of items should be reported on. You should know your property inside-out upon receiving this report.
Structural Building Inspection
The purpose of the pre-purchase structural building inspection is to provide advice to a prospective purchaser or other interested party regarding the condition of the structure of the property.
Timber Pest Inspection
Although commonly referred to as a termite or 'white ant' inspection, this inspection should also include an investigation into the presence of borers or timber decay within your home.
Pool Barrier Safety Inspection
This inspection is a check for compliance against the Australian Standard for Swimming Pool and Spa Barriers.
Final Inspection
The final inspection is usually undertaken by you as the buyer. You will test all of the electrical, plumbing and gas items to ensure they are in good, working order. Depending upon the wording of your offer and acceptance contract, any items that are not in good, working order should be rectified by the seller before settlement. The initial final inspection is usually conducted under the supervision of the selling agent on behalf of the sellers. You can request for the sellers to attend so they can show you how to use appliances that you may not understand, however it is at the seller's discretion as to whether they attend the inspection or not. Should an electrical, plumbing or gas appliance not be in working order at the time of the final inspection, the selling agent should instruct the seller to fix this item(s) and you may wish to re-inspect the property before settlement to ensure the item has been fixed.
It is also recommended that you request the keys to all windows and doors to be made available at the final inspection so that they can also be tested.
The final inspection is usually undertaken by you as the buyer. You will test all of the electrical, plumbing and gas items to ensure they are in good, working order. Depending upon the wording of your offer and acceptance contract, any items that are not in good, working order should be rectified by the seller before settlement. The initial final inspection is usually conducted under the supervision of the selling agent on behalf of the sellers. You can request for the sellers to attend so they can show you how to use appliances that you may not understand, however it is at the seller's discretion as to whether they attend the inspection or not. Should an electrical, plumbing or gas appliance not be in working order at the time of the final inspection, the selling agent should instruct the seller to fix this item(s) and you may wish to re-inspect the property before settlement to ensure the item has been fixed.
It is also recommended that you request the keys to all windows and doors to be made available at the final inspection so that they can also be tested.
Get your copy of our Final Inspection Checklist so you know what to test during your final inspection