GET THE EXPERTS ON YOUR SIDE

Transcription

1 GET THE EXPERTS ON YOUR SIDE A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PRE PURCHASE BUILDING AND PEST REPORTS Save money by identifying building problems before you buy! Find out what s involved in a building and pest inspection. Get expert building advice for FREE. info@expertbuildingconsultants.com.au CALL US

2 FINDING PEACE OF MIND WHEN BUYING REAL ESTATE It doesn t matter if you are a first home buyer or a seasoned investor, buying a home can be a very daunting experience. For most of us, investing in property is the biggest financial commitment that you will ever make. So it is essential the bricks and mortar you invest in will stand the test of time. That s where a combined pre purchase pest and building inspection comes in. Extensive damage to concrete piers This type of inspection is generally undertaken before you exchange contracts but usually after you have made an offer on the house with the real estate agent or vendor and it has been accepted. The pre purchase structural building inspection, also known as a standard property inspection, will identify any significant building defects or problems such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards or a faulty roof to name a few. The aim of the inspection is to highlight, problems with the property which, if left unchecked, could prove costly to repair. Active termites found in a pole It s important that you know exactly what you are buying! It is also advisable to have a pre purchase timber pest inspection conducted at the same time as your building report. A pest inspection will visually identify signs of termites, other timber pests and fungal decay. The report will also identify any conditions that might attract termite activity such as poor sub-floor ventilation, moisture issues and recommendation to help prevent future termite attack, Structural cracking

3 DO I REALLY NEED A PRE PURCHASE INSPECTION? Below is a photograph taken on a pre purchase inspections, if you can t work out what it is...it IS A TERMITE NEST!!!! These termites were fast eating this resident out of their living room, this massive infestation was just sitting behind a wall unit and if left untreated the termites would have caused major structural damage to this home costing the vendors thousands of dollars to fix. Everyday our inspectors find numerous problems with homes. Some are major, some are just minor maintenance issues. It s important you know exactly how much a property will cost to maintain in the future.

4 WHAT DOES THE INSPECTOR INSPECT? Our inspectors will go to great lengths to ensure that they inspect every part of your new home, where physically possible. Generally, they will inspect the roof, roof cavity, subfloor, all bedrooms, the kitchen and bathrooms, ceilings, walls, exterior and interior as well as the site. They will inspect all of these areas as long as they are reasonably accessible. For example: the roof may not be accessible when it is raining due to WH&S issues or the tenants may have furnishings to some of the rooms and therefore the inspector cannot visibly see the walls in the rooms. Around the property generally inspectors will visibly check: Garage, carport and garden shed Separate laundry or toilet Small retaining walls (ie. non structural) Steps Fencing Surface water drainage Stormwater run-off Paths and driveways It is a legal requirement that all pre purchase structural building inspections are carried out to Australian Standard AS and all timber pest reports completed to Australia Standard AS A professional inspector will ensure that the Australian Standards are followed during the inspection and that the report is in the appropriate format, using a standardised template. It is important to remember that a structural building inspection report should not be seen as an all-encompassing report dealing with every aspect of the property. Rather it should be seen as a reasonable attempt to identify any major problems that are visible at the time of the inspection. Likewise, having a timber pest inspection does not mean that termites have been excluded from the property. A termite management program is always highly recommended.

5 LEAVE YOUR MATE AT THE GATE Many first home buyers look at the price tag of a building & pest inspection, which is generally about $300 to $400* for a standard residential home, and are put off by the cost. Sometimes, they will get one of their tradie mates to embark on an inspection. This can cause heartache for all involved. It s important the inspector you use has the appropriate experience to be able to comment on building issues. If your mate gives you advice and it s wrong, it could cost you a lot of money, as well as your friendship. Secondly, your mate will generally not have access to professional equipment and reports templates so the building and pest inspection can be presented to a bank to secure your loan or to your conveyancer. Every house has some faults, it s important that you need to know to what extent they will effect your purchase and whether fixing them will fit into your budget. Having your mate stick his head underneath the house and giving the okay will not identify every issue and give an estimated value on its cost to repair. A professional inspector will also provide you with a scope and limitations document, so you know before hand exactly what is identified in the report and what is not inspected. They will take photographs of the major problems and maintenance issues at the property and include them in the report. HOT TIP: If you want to save cost on your pest and building inspection, use a company that offers both reports conducted at the same time. *price may vary depending on inspection type & company.

6 HOW TO BOOK YOUR INSPECTION Make sure you give your inspection company as much notice as you can generally two to three days. Call with the following information: Your contact details The address of the property The real estate agent Any other information about the home Will you be attending the inspection? Or, go to to book online using our contact form. One of our friendly staff will arrange access to the property and a confirmation to you. You are welcome to come along, the inspector can give you a verbal overview on site. Pay your invoice and then you will receive your reports, which are generally ed out. Our reports are available within 24 hours. PLEASE REMEMBER Building and pest inspections are only visual inspections. It is illegal for the inspector to move and/or remove materials and items from the property to carry out the inspection. Most inspections will be carried out with personal items blocking the inspectors view. The inspector cannot sometimes gain access to all parts of the property. Timber pest inspections inspect only for pests that are going to eat your house and will not include other vermin such as cockroaches, spiders or possums. You are welcome to attend the inspection, but it is best to let the inspector conduct the inspection first and then ask questions after he is finished. For this reason, we ask you attend about 30 minutes after the schedule inspection time.

7 ABOUT US Expert Building Consultants is a owner-operated family-based business operating out of Nambucca Heads, NSW. We service from Grafton to Port Macquarie and west to Armidale. We can travel further for expert witness reports. We have been providing solid, grounded building advice for the past 20 years as building consultants with over 30 years in the building construction industry. We are a professional, ethically-driven business which prides itself on attention to detail, workmanship and customer service. You are invited to attend all our inspections, where we can explain in lay mans terms, any problems found during your pre purchase inspections. Why go with us? Our reports are easy-to-read and professional; We are experienced and full-qualified; Make the booking process easy for you; Conduct combined pest and building reports; Give estimates on renovation costs; reports straight to your solicitor; Provide a continuing advice service; You can attend the inspection; We explain in laymans terms any problems with the property; Report available within 24 hours. HAVE RENOVATION PLANS? OUR INSPECTOR CAN GIVE YOU FREE ADVICE JUST ASK!

8 EXPERT BUILDING CONSULTANTS PO Box 6 Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 info@expertbuildingconsultants.com.au ABN: Expert Building Consultants 2018