A typical combined building and pest inspection will take between two to three hours. If a building inspector tells you they can do it in any less time than this, they are probably going to miss defects.

We welcome owners and buyers to be present at the time of inspection, although we ask that you leave the inspector to carry out their inspection and wait to ask your questions at the end. This allows the inspector to concentrate solely on assessing the property to deliver an accurate report.

We will work with clients, real estate agents and/or builders to arrange a time that suits all parties. We’ll ask you to provide details through our online form or over the phone and we will get in contact with them. If you have arranged a time already, let us know and we will try to accommodate the given time.

No, however the more obstacles that are in the property, the harder it will be to find defects. It is worthwhile requesting from the vendor that the property be as cleared as much as possible at the time of the inspection.

Usually we can conduct an inspection with 2–3 days’ notice. The report will be completed and emailed to you usually the same day the inspection takes place, or within 24hrs of the inspection. When booking your building inspection, give yourself enough time to make a decision. With pre-purchase inspections, you should get the vendor’s permission to have the property inspected as early in the sale negotiations as possible. This will help you decide if the property is worth buying.

Doing a property self-check won’t protect you but it might make you notice concerns you want to raise with the agent or your building or pest inspector. When you look around the property try to assess it with less emotion and check a few common issues:

See that windows and doors open easily. Inspect skirting boards, walls and ceilings for damp or mould. Look out for paint jobs that may have been used to cover up mould. Look out for sagging ceilings or buckling walls. Lift up carpets where possible to check for rotting or damp floorboards. Turn on all the taps and check for hot water and leaky taps. Flush the toilet to check for running cisterns. Look under sinks and give the plumbing a gentle shake to test sturdiness. Look out for rust and other damage to the pipes.

Review the hot water system for size and age, and check for damp in all wet areas. Try light switches and look at the fuse box to evaluate circuitry age and see if there is an Earth Leakage Safety Switch. Look at the general state of the roof, guttering and drainpipes. Inspect exterior walls for cracks and other defects.

Always choose a suitably qualified person such as a licensed builder, who also carries a QBCC completed residential building inspection licence and a Pest Management Technician licence, to perform a professional building inspection and provide a report. They will be able to see through any cosmetic improvements covering faults that might otherwise be missed by an untrained eye. A professional person will ensure that the format and content of the report complies with the Australian Standard. This is often necessary for mortgage applications. Make sure that the building or pest inspector you hire has adequate insurance cover, particularly for professional indemnity.

The building inspector should check all accessible parts of the property including: interior; exterior; roof space;

under-floor space; roof exterior; building site including garage, carport or garden shed, any separate laundry or toilet, retaining walls, steps, fencing, surface water drainage, storm water run-off and paths and driveways. You may also ask for a particular item or part of the property to be inspected, such as: visible signs of asbestos; electrical safety switch; operable smoke alarms

The inspection report should include the following information: your name; the address of the property; reason for the inspection; date of inspection; scope of the inspection; a list of any area or item that wasn’t inspected, the reasons why it wasn’t inspected and if necessary, a recommendation for further investigation; a summary of the overall condition of the property (considering its age and type) and any major faults founds in the property; a list of any significant problems that need fixing; if necessary, a recommendation that a further inspection or assessment be carried out by a suitably accredited specialist (eg electrician, plumber, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, surveyor or solicitor).

Yes, unless your building inspector is qualified to check pools you should get a separate pool inspector. Swimming pool problems can be very costly to repair and hard to spot so this is a wise investment before you buy a property with a pool. A comprehensive pre-purchase pool inspection involves a full pool leak inspection as well as assessing the pluming and filtration system for leaks and functionality

A Handover inspection is carried out at the practical completion of a new build or renovation. It gives an independent report on the quality of the workmanship and reports non-structural defects.

Stage quality inspections are carried out to identify poor workmanship, incomplete works and any non-structural build defects at different stages throughout your build. The primary stages are Timber Frame Inspections, Dwelling Lock Up inspections and Fixing Inspections. By identifying any defects early, unnecessary costs and hassles are avoided as issues are fixed as they arise

It is imperative to schedule your Leading Warranty Building Inspection as a follow-up after your Building Handover and within the non-structural building defects warranty period. We carry out inspections on all major renovations, additions, extensions and alterations. Our services in home warranty inspections include new homes, duplexes, dual occupancies, units and villa developments. Once we have completed our inspection, we will compile a home warranty inspection report or an owner/builder warranty report for you to submit to your builder.

Yes, for most people building a new home or renovating an existing home will be the biggest investment they will make in life. For a relatively small cost, compared with that of the building work, you will have peace of mind that your builder is providing you with what you are paying for.