Why pre-purchase building and pest inspections are essential
Pre-purchase building and pest inspections are a vital part of the buying process. They are designed to protect you as the buyer by making sure you are fully aware of the current condition of the property prior to purchase. It also gives you peace of mind.
Unfortunately, some buyers can be hesitant to get a building and pest inspection as they consider it to be an unnecessary expense. However, after being in the industry for many years, we can tell you that pre-purchase building and pest inspections are essential for many reasons.
What is a pre-purchase building and pest inspection?
A pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a comprehensive visual inspection of a property looking to identify any building defects, safety hazards and any evidence of termite damage or activity.
Buyers typically organise a building and pest inspection to assess the property’s true condition prior to purchase. The inspection is a combination of two inspections – a building inspection and a timber pest inspection.
The building inspection is a visual assessment to identify any major or minor building defects and any safety hazards. The timber pest inspection involves visually inspecting all accessible areas of the property to see if there is any evidence of active termites or previous termite damage.
During the inspection, the house is also checked for any abnormal moisture readings and thermal imaging anomalies, especially surrounding wet areas like bathrooms. Other areas that are checked are the yard and exterior of the building, internal rooms, ceiling roof void and house foundations.
1. Identifies any safety hazards at the property
One of the most important reasons to get a pre-purchase inspection is that it helps to keep people safe. As it will identify areas of the home that are unsafe such as missing balustrades, loose balcony rails and major cracks. It’s important to be made aware of any safety hazards before buying the property to avoid injury and make an informed decision about the property.
2. Identifies any major and minor building defects
Buying a home is a huge investment. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a home that requires major renovations and repairs that you hadn’t planned for. Building and pest inspections help to prevent this from happening to you as they identify any major or minor building defects that require attention.
Major defects are particularly important to identify as they are generally more expensive to repair and will often lead to larger problems if left unaddressed. Or worse, they may compromise the structural integrity of the home making it unsafe for residents.
3. Identifies evidence of termite damage or current termite activity
Termites are elusive creatures that can cause significant damage to a home if left undetected. This damage can be quite extensive as termites will move throughout the property consuming whatever timber they can find. Such as timber roof beams, wall frames, architraves, skirting boards and door and window frames.
Typically, termite damage is not covered under home insurance and can be costly to repair. In worst-case scenarios, termites can even render a home unlivable or unsafe if they consume important structural timber elements of the home.
4. It can potentially save you thousands in repairs
Understandably, problems with a property can be easily overlooked by potential buyers when viewing a property. As emotions are generally running high and there are often other distractions or priorities for buyers such as whether they can afford the house, is it a good layout for their family and so on. Likewise, some sellers and real estate agents may deliberately gloss over major issues to make the home more appealing.
Building and pest inspectors know what to look for when inspecting a property and are highly experienced at identifying problems. This means they can potentially save you thousands of dollars in repairs that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
5. Gives you greater negotiating power during the buying process
A little-known fact is that building and pest inspections can give you greater bargaining power during negotiations. For example, if major defects are found at a property, you may be able to negotiate a lower purchase price. Likewise, you may be able to request for the vendor to fix defects prior to settlement.
On the other hand, if the listed defects are too severe or are beyond your scope, desire or budget to repair you may have the option to exit the contract of sale altogether.
Have peace of mind with a pre-purchase building and pest inspection from Local Inspections
If you would like to know more or would like to book, contact us today!
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.