How to ensure you get a good Building Inspection

Sometimes when reading a Building & Pest Inspection Report (B&PIR) on your property you think, “This can’t possibly be my home!”” because the ‘High Risk’ ratings you see throughout the document don’t match up with you having lived there without issues for years. Your thoughts may be correct – the risk ratings are not always a result of actual dangers in your home. Because quality B&PIRs abide by the Australian Standards for building inspections, unless you know the standards back to front the reports can often seem unjustified. This article will help demystify the B&PIR, and show how as a homeowner you can reduce those potential highlighted risks before the inspector arrives. This means a cleaner report for your property and less concerns from interested parties!

Doors and windows
Driveways
Guttering
Plumbing and drainage
Retaining walls
Roof space and ceilings
Wiring
Any illegal additions or alterations to the home

Why are there 'High Risk' ratings in the report?

A ‘High Risk’ rating can mean that the inspector wasn’t able to confirm that the property was free of defects or risks of pests. So if your property actually is pest and defect free, it can still receive a ‘High Risk’ rating if the inspector wasn’t able to check all the areas of the property.

For example, when undertaking the Undetected Defect Risk Assessment inspectors will give a 3, 2, 1 rating on accessibility to these three areas:

Whether there is anything wrong with your property or not, if the inspector gives a rating of 7 to 9 points, your property is considered ‘High Risk’.

How do I avoid a 'High Risk' rating?

Below are some simple steps you can take to help avoid a ‘High Risk’ rating:

  1. Ensure all areas of the property are accessible
    A locked laundry door or hatch to the roof cavity will mean that the inspector cannot access those areas. To prepare for your inspection, make sure that all access points are unlocked and able to be used.
  2. Remove obstructions
    A fully furnished attic or packed storeroom are difficult for an inspector to examine, and can result in a ‘High Risk’ rating. Something like excess insulation in the roof cavity may prevent an inspector checking for termites, and increase your risk rating unnecessarily. When preparing for
    your inspection you should remove all obstructions you can, even if this means moving out furniture or other items. Taking these simple steps in preparation for an inspection will help make sure your property gets the best inspection report possible.

Often a report isn’t as it first seems and still describes that beautiful home you have had no troubles with. If you can’t do all the steps above, don’t worry. A good inspector will talk you and any interested parties through each of the
ratings they have given in a report and explain how common or not they are in comparison to other similar properties.

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3 Reasons Why you need an Independent Building and Pest Inspection

Whether you’re a first homebuyer looking for the perfect family home, or a keen investor scoping the market for another property to add to your portfolio, ascertaining the
condition of a property should always be a priority.

Knowing what you will likely need to repair, and when, is crucial information to have when you’re buying a property. Property is an investment, and to make a smart one you
need to know what you’re investing in, both now and in the future. It can be easy to believe you can get by with your own inspection along with any details given to you by the seller’s agent. However, if you want peace of mind it’s worth investing in an independent and professional opinion.

The QBC building inspection report focuses on the construction of the property. A QBC professional performs checks to find any serious structural issues like movement (cracking) in the walls and faulty roofs. A QBC pest inspection report will tell you if the property is housing any damaging critters, such as termites.

So why should you get one?

  1. Prevention rather than cure
    Having a QBC licensed professional inspector on your side can save you from time-consuming and costly repairs or renovation down the track. While the building may look fine to you, a QBC building inspector will be able to tell you about flaws that may require expensive repairs down the track.Let our experience in the property industry save you money.
  2. Negotiate from the drivers seat
    Having QBC provide all the information about a property is invaluable, and puts you in the best position for bidding and negotiation. Perhaps the seller has never had an independent inspection done, or maybe they’re not letting on about something they know will drive the price down. It’s up to you to get this information, and once our QBC inspector has provided you with a accurate picture as to the condition of the house, you’re in the driving seat. You’re free to walk if there are any major issues, or you can stay and negotiate a discount or have the vendor fix the problem before you buy.
  3. Safety first
    Regardless of whether you’re planning to live in your new property, or rent it out to others, you want your new buy to be safe one. A QBC thorough report will alert you to the presence of any dangerous faults like poorly constructed balconies or balustrades that could cause an accident. A QBC building and pest inspection is a small upfront cost (from $289) in return for long-term peace of mind and investment security. With a QBC report you can rest assured that you have made a smart and informed decision. Then you can get on with celebrating buying your dream property.

Think you don't need an apartment inspection?

When purchasing an apartment you may not think to order a QBC Building & Pest Inspection, assuming they’re only needed for houses, but this could not be further from the truth. While some structural issues are the responsibility of the Owners’ Corporation, if it’s part of your unit the entire cost may fall to you. And even if the costs are shared between the Owner’s Corporation you could still be up for a hefty special levy you didn’t budget for. This means that both a Strata Report and Building & Pest Inspection are vital to make sure you’re properly protected.

 

One of the most common (and not to mention costly!) maintenance issues for apartments is water damage and leaks. Faulty workmanship, poor quality materials, ageing and poor design are the major factors in apartments developing water leaks. These can cause serious problems for owners, leading to repair costs of thousands of dollars, and if it’s part of your apartment, you’ll be on the hook for the bill. Another common source of repair costs is badly constructed balconies, where it only takes one poor sealing job, broken tile or blocked drainage point to cause a leak which can cause substantial damage to an adjoining property.

 

Water damage is not only expensive to repair, but it can also have major health and safety impacts. Water that gets into electrical fittings can make the apartment unsafe, and mould and rot resulting from water damage can cause health issues for occupants. The best way to avoid these problems is to book a comprehensive QBC Building And Pest Inspection prior to purchasing an apartment. If you book a report through BYB you can have confidence that the report is 100% independent, and performed by a qualified and insured inspector. While you’re booking a QBC Building & Pest Inspection, you should also pick up a Strata Reportto check up on the financial health, conditions and levies of the Owners’ Corporation you are buying in to.

Get in touch with the team

A detailed Australian Standards compliant report is provided to you within 24 hours of the inspection Our commitment to customer service does not end with the inspection. If you have queries about the inspection or the report then we are on hand after the inspection to answer your questions.