What Exactly is Included in a Building and Pest Inspection?

Building and pest inspections are designed to shield property buyers from investing in property that requires costly repairs. These reports uncover the potential hidden issues of a property.

This process helps bring peace of mind to home buyers and investors in knowing that they aren’t buying a structure that could cost a lot in repairs or collapse in on itself.

It is vital that you know as much as possible about the condition of a property before you buy or invest in it. Building and pest inspections play a major role in preventing extraneous expenses after the purchase of a property.

That is why the process of having a building and pest inspection performed is so widely recommended by the experts.

Types of Inspections & Reports

The details and formatting of a building report is dependent upon what type of property is being inspected. Other factors that affect the inspection and report include the condition, the age, and the size of said property. These same factors also affect the cost of the report.

Building inspection reports may be done in a standard format, a comprehensive checklist format, or it may be customized according to the property. Sometimes pictures are taken, while other times they are not included.

Regardless of the format, the report should provide you with enough information to make you aware of any problems and the overall condition of the property.

The standard building report is essentially a visual inspection that may not uncover any major structural faults or other hidden issues. If you have concerns, it is advisable to look into additional assessments by other accredited specialist such as structural engineers, pest inspectors, surveyor, or another specialist regarding water or electrical issues.

What happens during building and pest inspections?

The inspector should inspect every accessible areas of the property. This may include:

• The interior building
• The exterior building
• The roof space
• The roof exterior
• The under-floor space
• The site

You can request that specific areas of the property be inspected like the following.

• Smoke alarms
• Signs of asbestos issues
• Electrical safety switch

An inspection of the building site normally includes extraneous buildings and areas such as these:

• Pathway and driveway
• Garage, carport, garden shed
• Steps
• Fences
• Non-structural small retaining walks
• Separate toilet or laundry area
• Stormwater run-off
• Surface water drainage

Be sure to specify any areas you would like inspected if necessary.

Your Report Information

Your report will include the details of your information and other pertinent information as follows:

• Your name and the address of the property being inspected
• The reason for inspection
• The date of inspection
• The scope of inspection
• List of areas not inspected, why they weren’t inspected, and sometimes a recommendation for further examination of the property
• Summary of the general condition of the property
• List of significant issues that need to be repaired or addressed
• When necessary, recommendations for further inspection or assessment by other specialists

What’s not included in the building and pest inspection?

Information regarding areas of the property that could not or were not inspected, estimates of repair costs, minor flaws, termite detection, or other matters outside the scope of the inspector’s expertise.
These are some things they commonly do not inspect:

• Every window
• Carpet, flooring
• Paint coatings
• Fireplace and chimney
• Hazards
• Appliances like ovens, dishwasher, and the like
• Water systems
• Swimming pool and equipment
• Air conditioning
• Plumbing, gasfittings, and drainage
• Smoke detectors and electrical wiring
• Footings
• Concealed damp-proofing
• Television reception

It’s common for most properties to have minor defects such as weathering, blemishes, cracking, and things that are easily and inexpensively repaired. Unless you request it, that information will not be part of your report.

How can you prepare for the inspection?

It helps to ensure the inspector/consultant will have no distractions during the building and pest inspection. Here are some things you can do to help improve the flow of the process.

• Make sure that all the doors are unlocked so all the rooms can be inspected
• Keep children out of the way of the rooms being inspected
• Create plenty of space between the wall and furnishings
• Keep your dog on a leash and away from the house where applicable
• Remove anything that might block access to the roof
• Ensure that the garage is easily accessible

Take down wall hangings, pictures, and posters from the walls
If you require a building & pest inspection or swimming pool certification, please call our friendly team on 1300 883 806

Originally published at www.housechecknsw.com.au on August 13, 2018.