Inspect the Unexpected: The Importance of a Building and Pest Inspection

When purchasing property, we suggest getting a building and pest inspection carried out before settlement – and for good reason. Their purpose is to spare you from a financial headache down the track and ensure the house you’re purchasing is pest-free, safe and structurally sound.

A building and pest inspection is designed to provide a snapshot of the condition of the property and to identify any current or potential issues that need to be remedied. While usually grouped together, a building inspection and pest inspection are two separate services.

A building inspection identifies building defects such as leaky roofs, safety hazards, structural damage, rising damp, draining issues, cracked walls and more. Although building inspections should identify visual termite damage, it doesn’t look for active pests. This is where the pest inspection comes in.

The pest inspection determines the presence of any active pests such as termites, borers, wood decaying fungi or mould. The report should detail the areas inspected, any current and past activity, areas of damage, construction faults that may cause pest issues in the future, drainage and environmental issues. The pest inspection should not only cover the building site, but the area 30m from the main building to identify potential risk factors for the future.

Why are building and pest inspections necessary?

·         Without expert knowledge, defects are difficult to detect.

·         Most people won’t go on top of the roof, into the roof or underneath the floor to find concealed defects.

·         Most individuals don’t have time to assess the potential costs or work associated with repairing defects.

·         Interstate buyers can get independent advice on the state of the property without relying solely on the word of the real estate agent

·         You can count on the reliability of professional findings

·         The prevention of massive financial loss can save you thousands in the long run

If you’re looking to buy a property and need more information about what’s involved in the application and settlement process, give us a call on (08) 9417 3399.