What does a building and pest inspection cover?
A building and pest inspection is a thorough visual examination of a property by a licensed inspector to identify any building defects and termite-related activity.
The purpose of this inspection is to provide the buyer or owner with a detailed report on the condition of the property. As this information helps them to make an informed decision about the property.
What does a building and pest inspection cover?
Typically, a building and pest inspection will cover the following:
- Building Inspection: A comprehensive inspection of the building including all accessible areas within 30 meters of the house. This can include the subfloor, walls, roof, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, fences, garages and more. This inspection aims to identify major building defects that affect the building's livability or safety. It also looks for minor faults that require maintenance.
- Pest Inspection: A thorough examination of the property for any signs of timber pest infestations. This includes looking for termites and timber borers. This inspection aims to identify any termite-related damage and assess the risk of future termite infestations.
- Thermal imaging and moisture meter: Special equipment used to help detect anomalies that may not be apparent to the human eye. Such as high moisture readings and abnormal heat patterns which can be indicative of termite activity.
It's important to note that the roof, roof void and subfloor is inspected upon the building and pest inspector's discretion. According to Queensland Building and Construction Commission guidelines, these areas can only be checked if it is safe to do so.
What's not covered during the inspection?
There are certain items the building and pest inspector can’t check as its outside their scope expertise and qualifications. This is defined by Queensland Building and Construction Commission and Australian Standards. These items can include the following:
- Home appliances: ovens, heating, cooling, dishwashers, hot water systems
- Plumbing and gas: pipes, water tanks, gas tanks, solar panels
- Home accessories: smoke alarms, intercoms, CCTV and alarm systems
- Compliance to building codes: must be checked by a building certifier
- Toxic or hazardous substances: meth residue testing and asbestos testing
- Swimming pool
- Likelihood of nature disasters: flood zone or erosion
Building and pest report
The building and pest report will detail the inspector's findings and may include recommendations for any repairs or maintenance required. At Local Inspections, our reports are easy to read and include coloured photos of defects.
The report can be used to negotiate a better price or conditions of sale, or to plan future repairs or renovations. Ideally, a building and pest report will help you make an informed decision and give you peace of mind.
Buy with confidence with 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.