Building and Pest Inspection in Brisbane
Getting a building and pest inspection in Brisbane is an important step in the buying process. The purpose of a building and pest inspection is to ensure you are fully aware of the true condition of the property.
This enables you to make an informed purchase decision and gives you peace of mind. It may also save you thousands in repairs for defects or termite damage that may have gone unnoticed or undiscussed during the open house and negotiations.
What is a building and pest inspection?
A building and pest inspection is a thorough visual inspection of a home for building defects and timber pest activity. It’s two inspections combined - the building inspection and the timber pest inspection.
The building inspection checks for major and minor building defects and safety hazards that may affect the livability of the property. The pest inspection is concerned with looking for any evidence of live termites and termite damage – both past and present. The inspector also checks the property for conducive conditions for termites which may increase the risk of a future termite infestation.
Once the inspection is completed, the inspector’s findings are collated into an easy-to-read report with coloured photos of the defects. At Local Inspections, we provide fast reporting with reports sent within 24 hours of the inspection taking place.
Why is it important to get a building and pest inspection in Brisbane?
Building and pest inspections are important for several reasons:
- It ensures that you are fully aware of the true condition of the property. This means you’re not going into the purchase blind and unaware of building or timber pest issues related to the property.
- It can save you from costly repairs. It’s not uncommon for a vendor to be unaware or cover up major building defects. Likewise, termites are quiet creatures that can cause significant damage to a home if they go unnoticed. Both issues can be difficult to spot during an open house. A building and pest inspector knows what to look for and can often find issues in a property that you may not be able to identify.
- It gives you peace of mind. By being fully aware of the condition of the property, you’ll know exactly what you’re buying and will have peace of mind that you’re making the right decision.
- It gives you greater bargaining power during negotiations. If major defects are found, you may be able to negotiate a lower purchase price or get the vendor to complete repairs prior to settlement. Likewise, you may be able to withdraw from the contract altogether.
What's included in a building and pest inspection?
A building and pest inspection includes checking all accessible areas within 30 meters of the home. This includes the interior, exterior, garage, carport, roof, roof void, subfloor, fences and retaining walls. Under Australian Standards and Queensland Building and Construction Commission, the inspector can only check the roof, roof void and subfloor if it’s safe to do so.
During the inspection, the building and pest inspector will use a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter. These tools help our inspectors detect anomalies that may not be visible to the human eye. Such as unusual heat patterns indicating termite activity, possible water leaks or high moisture levels.
Both issues can be costly to repair and attract termites to the home. Hence, the importance of identifying areas of high moisture and other conducive conditions for a future termite infestation.
What you need to know about termites in Brisbane
Termites are highly active in Brisbane. Our Queensland climate makes for the perfect living conditions as they love warm, damp climates. Termites are highly elusive creatures that often nest in trees and underground. The most common type of termite found in Brisbane homes is the subterranean type. As they often find their way into homes by borrowing up through cracks in a home’s foundation, moist soil, and wood that is in contact with the ground.
If left unnoticed, termites can cause significant damage to a home and can compromise its structural integrity. In fact, a recent report showed that termites cause more damage to Australian homes than floods, fires and storms combined! Making matters worse, termite damage is generally not covered by home insurance. This highlights the importance of having your Brisbane home checked for any evidence of live termites and termite damage prior to purchase.
Have peace of mind with a building and pest inspection from Local Inspections
It's important to choose a qualified and licensed building and pest inspector to ensure that you receive an accurate and thorough inspection report.
At Local Inspections, all our inspectors have a minimum of 30 years of experience within the building industry. This ensures you are getting the best quality building and pest inspection.