Building inspections in Australia are quite similar to ones around the world. It is crucial to know as much as possible about the condition of the property before the big purchase. Building inspections help ensure that problems and extra costs are avoided. This is where a pre-purchase property inspection report comes into place. It is commonly referred to as a building inspection. This post looks at everything you need to know about building inspections in Australia.
So What Is the Pre-Purchase Property Inspection Report?
A pre-purchase property inspection report is one of the types of building inspection reports that is extremely popular among buyers and sellers alike. Normally, before a buyer purchases the property, this building report is heavily relied upon. It is also known as a standard property report. The pre-purchase property inspection report looks at the condition of the property in great detail in order to provide the buyer with information needed to make the right decision. The inspection report will allow you to know if there are any considerable building defects with the property such as a faulty roof, safety hazards, cracking in the walls, and rising dampness. It is crucial to obtain the pre-purchase property inspection report before you sign the sale contract. The report carefully identifies any type of problem with the property which might prove costly to repair in the future or would deter the buyer from buying the property in the first place. It is due to this reason that there is a huge demand for Building Inspections Melbourne.
The consequences of forgetting to hire a building inspector for a standard property report are severe. It could prove extremely costly for you to repair the property and is an expense which could have been avoided in the first place by getting a standard property report to determine if the property is in perfect condition and if you are getting what you actually paid for and are not being ripped off. A building inspection report is unique as it looks at the true condition of the property. Only a professional building inspector has the expertise needed to provide the information that you seek. Furthermore, it is always a good idea to obtain a separate pest inspection report before buying a property. There is always the possibility of a pests damaging the property in Australia. In order to avoid having to pay for all the repairs out of your own pocket, it is important that you also get a pest inspection report. This report looks at the existence of termites and the damage that has been caused by such pests to the property.
Why You Need a Building Inspection Report
Anyone buying a property in Australia knows the importance of a building inspection report. It is extremely useful due to three main reasons which include having the knowledge of the true condition of the property in advance before any issues occur, provides you with specialist advice, and provides you with powerful information that can be used to negotiate the price. A standard building inspection report can be used for negotiating the price of the property and to discuss the repairs needed early on. The report offers specialist advice regarding the major issues with the property and how they can be overcome.
Choose the Best Person to Inspect the Property
When contemplating whether to get a standard building inspection report, it is vital that you hire a qualified person to inspect the property such as an architect, a property surveyor, or licensed building. It will help ensure that best person is hired to inspect the property.
Before you decide to buy a property, make sure that hire someone who has the expertise needed to inspect the property. When you hire a professional, it helps ensure that you hire someone who knows just what to look for and how the property can be improved. The expert will also be able to look beyond the cosmetic improvements that keep faults and issues hidden from an untrained eye.
The professional will provide you with a standard building inspection report which follows Australian standards (AS 4349.1). Moreover, it is crucial that you hire someone who has adequate insurance cover such as professional indemnity.
Contents
The amount of detail and the format of the report depends entirely on the type of property that is inspected. Other factors that are also considered include the reporting process, the condition of the property, its age and size. Furthermore, these factors would also impact the overall cost of preparing the report.
Some building inspection reports follow a comprehensive checklist and adopt the standard format as per the requirements of the buyer and the property. Many reports also include photographs as evidence. However, the most important thing that should be considered is whether the Australian Standard (AS 439.1) is followed. Moreover, the building inspection report must contain sufficient information in order for you to determine the true condition of the property and to identify any considerable issues.
It is important to keep in mind that a standard building inspection report only provides buyers with a visual inspection and would not identify hidden issues and major structural defects. In order to avoid such issues, it is a good idea to obtain additional assessments of the property by hiring an accredited specialist such as a water supply authority officer, electronic supply officer, solicitor, surveyor, geo-technical engineer, structural engineer, and pest inspector.
General Information
The building inspection report should provide you with general information about the property. Some of the areas that are covered in the report include the site, roof exterior, under floor space, roof space, exterior and interior of the building. Furthermore, you can always ask the specialist to cover a specific part of the property or items like operable smoke alarms, electrical safety switches, and possibility of asbestos. Some of the areas that are covered in the building inspection report include driveways, paths, surface water drainage, fencing, steps, small retaining walls, separate toilet, laundry room, garden shed, carport, and garage. It is vital that you speak with the surveyor to ensure that all the important areas are included in the building inspection report.
Other Details
There are other details that also need to be included in the building inspection report as mentioned below.
- Name of the buyer.
- The address of the inspected property.
- The purpose of inspection.
- Date of inspection.
- Scope of inspection.
- Details of considerable problems which require repairs.
- Details of the items or areas that have not been inspected and the reason for non-inspection.
- Summary of the property’s condition.
- Recommendation for further assessment or inspection if necessary such as in case of the need to hire a suitable accredited specialist like solicitor, surveyor, geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, water supply officer, electricity supply officer, and pest inspector.
Summary
The summary of the building inspection report plays a huge role in shedding light to crucial issues that need to be addressed. It provides the buyer with the bigger picture. The summary is the most important part of the role as it is relied upon by the buyer to negotiate with the seller and to determine whether the property should even be purchased in the first place. It provides a brief look into the major faults that have been observed in the property. The overall condition of the property is discussed to provide a better idea of the type and age of the property. The summary is an eye-opener.
Things Not Included
There are certain things that are not included in the building inspection report. It is important that you know what is not included in order to rely on the report to the extent of information that it provides. Some of the things that are not included in the building inspection report are termite detection, minor defects, estimate of repair costs, issues which are outside the expertise of the consultant, and the parts of the property which had been agreed not to be inspected or are simply not included.
It is important that buyers realize that the building inspection report is not an all-encompassing report as it does deal with every single aspect of the property. The report only reasonably attempts to identify and determines whether there are any major problems with the property. The major issues that are mentioned in the property have to be visible during the inspection in order to be included in the building inspection report. The extent of the issue depends entirely on the type and age of the property. Keep in mind that even though the report offers invaluable expert advice, it does not cover every issue. Some of the things that are not included in the building inspection report are mentioned below.
- Carpeting
- Intercom and alarm system
- Chimneys and fireplaces
- Watering systems
- Swimming pool and related equipment
- Air conditioner
- Gas fitting, drainage, and plumbing
- Smoke detectors and electrical wiring
- Concealed damp-proofing
- Footings
- Television reception
- Window opening
- Hazards
- Paint coating
- Appliances like hot plates, vacuum system, and dishwasher.
Title Properties & Strata Schemes
With title properties and strata scheme, the expert would assess and inspect the condition of the immediate exterior and interior of the property that you want to buy. Moreover, anyone that wants the expert to inspect any other part of the property would need to request a tailor-made property report.
Minor Defects
There are certain minor defects that should also be taken into account. Generally, many properties have minor defects like physical damage to materials, unevenness, deterioration, weathering, cracking, corrosion, and blemishes. Once again, anyone that wants the building inspection report to mention minor defects would need to request the consultant to include minor defects in the report.
Factors That Impact The Report
Under specific conditions, the final report would have an impact. The factors which impact the report are mentioned below.
- Issues which might have been covered up deliberately to show the area as problem-free.
- The specific area that the specialist has expertise over.
- Information that you have provided the specialist.
- Issues which are difficult to detect because of the weather and other conditions like leaks and rising dampness.
Other Purposes of the Report
There are other purposes of the building inspection report as well. Normally, the inspection is carried out for providing the buyer with crucial information about the property. The report provides an expert view into the condition of the property. The building inspection report is not used as a warranty, certificate of compliance or any other related purpose. Moreover, the report is not intended for providing an estimate of the cost of repairs. Anyone that requires an estimation of the repairs would need to ask for a special purpose report.
Duration of Completion of the Report
Normally, it takes about two to three days for the building inspection report to be completed. However, the duration for the completion of the report depends on the property. It is important that you provide the experts with sufficient time to complete the report. Moreover, you should get the permission for inspection from the seller as early as possible in order to save time and start the sale negotiations on the right foot. The report will help you decide if the property is even worth buying. Check the policies procedures beforehand to know what should be expected.
Other Types of Reports
There are three main types of reports. These include special-purpose property reports, pest inspection reports and pre-sale building reports. Each report has its own purpose. It is vital that you choose the right report. Moreover, if you are not satisfied with the report, then you can ask the consultant for changes. A building inspection report is essential when buying property in Australia. Most of the time, first-time buyers overlook the importance of a building inspection report which ends up costing them in the long run.