House Inspections
Are you looking for house inspections in your local area? At Local Inspections, we provide a few different house inspection services including building and pest inspections, stage inspections, timber pest inspections and handover inspections.
In this blog, we’ll take you through the different services we have available to help you decide which one is right for you.
Building and pest inspections
A building and pest inspection is a comprehensive visual inspection of a property looking for building defects and any evidence of termite activity or damage. It is a combination of both a building inspection and a timber pest inspection.
The building inspection looks for any major or minor building defects, safety hazards and other issues that affect the property’s livability. Whereas the timber pest inspection checks all accessible areas of the home for any evidence of termites or timber borers.
After the inspector has assessed the property, they will compile their findings into a building and pest report. At Local Inspections, our reports are sent within 24 hours of the inspection taking place and include coloured photos of the defects. The inspector will also provide recommendations for repairs and further investigation, if necessary.
Most people get a building and pest inspection prior to purchasing a property or selling a property. For buyers, it helps them understand the current condition of the property and make an informed decision. For sellers, it gives them an opportunity to fix any defects before potential buyers find them and set a realistic sale price.
Annual timber pest inspections
As mentioned above, a timber pest inspection is a visual inspection of the property to identify any evidence of termite activity or damage. It also checks for signs of timber borers. Australian Standards recommend having your home checked annually, as termites can cause significant damage to a home if left undetected.
Termite damage is not usually covered under house insurance, so an annual timber pest inspection is important to ensure any termite activity is discovered early. This will help minimize the amount of damage caused by termites.
During the inspection, the pest inspector will also use a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter. These tools help our inspectors detect issues that may not be visible to the human eye. Such as abnormal heat patterns behind walls which could indicate termite activity. Likewise, high moisture readings are a conducive condition to future termite infestations as termites love damp timber. The pest inspector will advise whether there are any other conducive conditions at the property and if the termite management system is current.
New build stage inspections
Stage inspections are an important part of the building process. As they ensure each ‘stage’ of the build has been properly completed. If one stage of the building isn’t properly constructed, it can have massive flow-on effects on the rest of the building. For example, the structural integrity of the home can be compromised if mistakes have been made during the foundation stage.
There are 5 stage inspections that need to take place throughout the build process, including:
- Foundation slab stage – completed after the foundation has been installed but before the concrete slab has been poured. This ensures the foundation structure (boxing, steel reinforcement, etc.) is correct before pouring the concrete slab.
- Frame stage – conducted after the wall and roof frame have been built but before wall linings and roof installation begin. This stage inspection checks that the frame has been built to the regulation code and is straight.
- Lock-up stage – completed once the roof covering, external wall cladding/brickwork, exterior windows and doors, guttering and flashings have been installed to ensure the building can be ‘locked up’ and is watertight.
- Pre-painting stage – conducted after the plaster and internal fixtures (built-in-wardrobes, baths, skirting boards, etc.) have been installed. Many defects can be hidden by paintwork and flooring, so it’s important to ensure everything is right before the painting begins.
Practical completion inspections
Once all the stage inspections have been completed, a practical completion inspection is required. Also known as a handover inspection. This is the final inspection that takes place on a new building and is generally done before final payment is made.
A practical completion inspection is a visual inspection to check the quality of workmanship and identify any minor defects with the property. At this stage, there should be no outstanding major defects as these issues should have been identified during the stage inspections.
Common handover defects include paint touch-ups, incomplete caulking around the shower or vanity, broken tiles, damaged render and more. These defects don’t affect the livability of the property, but they can be unsightly. It’s also not what you’re expecting to see when you’ve built a new house. It’s important to get these issues rectified by the builder before you make the final payment and take possession of the property.
Have peace of mind with Local Inspections
At Local Inspections, we pride ourselves on delivering great service, fast reporting, competitive pricing and thorough inspections.
Each of our inspectors also has a minimum of 30 years of experience within the building industry to ensure you're getting the best quality inspection.
If you would like to know more or have some questions, give us a call via the button below!