Buying a home, old or new, or having one constructed for your family is both an exciting and a stressful time. It’s mostly exciting when you picture your family living comfortably and happily, and making wonderful memories, in your new home.
But before you start this amazing new chapter, you have to go through the experience of having the house inspected by a professional building inspector.
So, what is a building inspection?
A building inspection presupposes that the house might have structural problems and, of course, discovering and dealing with such problems is the last thing you’d want when your family is eager to move in.
At the same time, it’s something you should prioritise to make sure that your family’s new home is structurally safe and sound, or, if you’re having the house built, to make sure that your contractor is complying with the proper building standards.
Do I really need a building inspection?
You should remember that a building inspection, no matter how stressful it might get, is a process that you should not rush. In fact, you should make sure, and even demand if necessary, that the building inspector you hired or hired by your realtor does a thorough and accurate job.
This means that you should also expect the worst. It is best, however, to identify any and all problems and potential problems so they can be dealt with immediately and properly. As you should already be aware, some building problems, when left unresolved/unrepaired could cost you more money in the long run and put your family at risk.
What types of building inspection services are there?
These are some of the most common types of building inspection services:
- Building Inspections
- Timber Pest Inspections
- New Home Stage Inspections
- Defect Inspections
One of the most common questions asked by home buyers is how long a building inspection usually takes. Depending on the size of the house and the issues that an inspector might find, the whole process can take between 90 minutes and two hours, or even longer.
What features will a building inspector assess?
Generally, a building inspector ensures that a house’s structural safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and (in the case of a house under construction) adherence to the original building plans. The qualifications of your building inspector will determine exactly what the building inspection will cover. These are the common property features and issues that a qualified building inspector usually has on his checklist:
- Structure
- Foundations
- Ceilings, walls, and retaining walls
- Floors
- Guttering
- Eaves
- Fencing
- Electrical
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
- Plumbing and drainage
- Hot water system
- Moisture problems
- Asbestos
- Pest problems
- Maintenance issues
What should I do before a building inspection?
Prior to the building inspection, do your research (on the property and the location’s history) and write down the important questions that you might want to ask the inspector, as well as any concerns you might have.
Especially if you’re buying a house, knowing its condition is going to be an important factor in whether or not the price is right and in determining if a house is the right one for your family. You wouldn’t want your “dream house” to turn into a nightmare later on when hidden problems suddenly come out of the woodwork (pun intended) after you have moved in.
About the Author:
Sofia Colston works at River City Conveyancing in Brisbane, specialising in commercial and residential conveyancing.
Looking to buy, but unsure of the process? We’d love to help! Give us a call on 08 6254 6333 and we’d be happy to step out the process for you.
