Buying property in Australia is, for many, becoming harder and harder and for those who have their eye on the home of their dreams, perhaps one of the most significant investments they’ll make in a lifetime.
You can buy the wrong flavour of chewing gum and simply toss it out or share it with a friend, no problem; property is not a casual everyday purchase, and you really want to make sure that everything is as advertised. Moreover, the home should be in adequate condition for your health and safety, and you should have a reasonable idea of which (if any) major and/or minor works need to be completed now and down the line.
After all, paying off a home is not the end of the story. Housing renovations and repairs are a constant that every homeowner must be prepared for, but there’s a massive difference between repairing a hot water tank now and having to pay thousands to replace it. Now do the same for structural elements like load-bearing walls, foundation, and roof. You can surely see how unanticipated costs can skyrocket, so you should either be aware of remedial works beforehand or arrange for a fairer selling price with these things taken into consideration.
What is a Building Survey & Report?
One common practice that every prospective owner should engage in is retaining a professional building survey and report, or simply a building inspection report. While not obligatory, nearly every state and territorial government in Australia strongly recommends it. It will come at a cost, but that cost can pay off in potentially thousands of dollars and lost nights of sleep from a faulty building filled with flaws and defects.
A building inspection report is a document shared with homebuyers and/or property sellers from qualified builders and inspectors upon completion of a thorough in-person survey.
It’s always a good idea to visit your future home before finalising the transaction, of course, but there are many things you might not notice or that might be impossible to notice when visiting. A leaky roof? Sure, that is an obvious flaw. Old, faulty plumbing or rotten subfloors cheaply covered with subpar flooring? You might not even notice until you’ve moved in and (potentially) had to pay thousands to repair the one or more flaws you’ve inherited.
The building inspection consists of an in-depth, in-person, thorough survey of the building’s interior and exterior elements, including structural elements. Our team captures around 200 hi-res photos of the exterior and around 200-300 photos of the interior. This lets us show you, with no technical engineering language, exactly what the issue is (if any). The survey inspects everything from the ceilings to the floors, walls, and everywhere else.
What is Included in a Building Inspection Report?
The building inspection report is what we provide to clients upon completion of the inspection and after analysing our findings. That is essentially what it is: our key findings, documented in great detail but using vivid imagery and plain language to explain exactly which major and/or minor remedial works need to be undertaken.
Some of the things we include in the report include (but are not limited to):
- Chimneys (stacks, pots, flaunching)
- Roof & roofing cover
- Gutters, fascias, soffits
- Interior and exterior walls (including load-bearing)
- Door and window jambs, frames, glazing, etc.
- Floors and subflooring
- Balconies, patios, staircases
- Fences, sheds, and other outdoor structures
- Gardens & driveways
- Plumbing systems
- Kitchens & bathrooms (including fixtures)
- HVAC systems
All of our findings related to these elements and more will be found in comprehensive detail in your building inspection report.
Guardian Building Inspections
Choose Guardian Building Inspections for building inspection reports and more.
