Building and Pest Inspections: What You Should Know
Building and pest inspections are common practice in Queensland, especially when purchasing a new home. It's generally included as a clause in the contract of sale to ensure the buyer is making an informed decision.
Here's what you should know about booking a building and pest inspection.
Why are building and pest inspections important?
A building and pest inspection is a visual inspection of a property to assess its current condition prior to purchase. The purpose of the report is to ensure the buyer knows the true condition of the property - before finalising the purchase.
No doubt, you've heard horror stories of people buying homes without getting a building and pest inspection only to find the home is riddled with termites or that it requires more renovation than expected.
A pre-purchase building and pest inspection helps to prevent this from happening to you. That’s why it is vitally important to get a building and pest inspection - regardless of whether it’s an investment property or your new forever home.
What is a building and pest inspection?
As the name suggests, a Building and Pest Inspection is a combined inspection.
The building inspection is a visual assessment of the property looking for both major and minor building defects. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission defines major defects as any issue(s) that affect the safety or livability of the property. While minor defects are classed as items that don’t require immediate action such as maintenance issues or general aging.
The pest inspection looks for any evidence of termite activity and termite damage - both past and present. It also checks the property for conditions that are conducive to future termite infestations. Our inspectors also use a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera during the inspection.
What's included in a Building and Pest Inspection?
The building and pest inspection includes checking all accessible areas within 30 meters of the home. This can include areas such as garages, sheds, fences, retaining walls and carports. If it’s safe to do so, the inspector will also check the roof void, roof and subfloor.
During the building and pest inspection, the home is also checked with a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera. This equipment allows our inspectors to identify abnormal moisture readings and other anomalies that may be unseen to the naked eye. Such as heat spots behind walls that indicate high termite activity.
All our inspectors operate under Australian Standards and Queensland Building and Construction Commission guidelines.
Who organises building and pest inspections?
Typically, the buyer organises and pays for the building and pest inspection.
At Local Building and Pest Inspections, we can liaise with the selling agent or property manager on your behalf to ensure we have access to the property on the day of the inspection. There are many moving parts to buying a property and we aim to make the process as easy as possible.
How much does a building and pest inspection cost?
The cost of a building and pest inspection varies depending on the size, location and condition of the property. Apartment and unit inspections start from $340 including GST. Houses start from $440 for a standard 2-bedroom home.
If the property is located on an island, is in serious disrepair, has additional living spaces, or a granny flat, there are sometimes additional costs. This is due to the extra time required to complete the inspection.
Have peace of mind with building and pest inspections from Local Inspections
With all our building and pest inspectors having over 30 years of experience, you can trust that you're getting a quality building and pest inspection.