A building inspection comprises of an investigation or audit to determine whether a building adheres to the regulatory framework prescribed by Standards Australia Committee BD-805. The control is performed by qualified and certified inspectors, surveyors or architects who generally belong to a background of the construction industry. Being well competent with the technical aspects of the construction of buildings, the inspectors can ensure the safety of the building before a sale.
The building inspection standard covers the residential buildings, villas, free-standing houses, semi-detached houses, terrace-style houses, townhouses and the multi-unit residential buildings.
There Are Four Types Of Building Inspections:
1. General Inspection: This inspection involves adjudging the overall condition of the building. It covers all the accessible areas of the property including the interior, exterior, roof space, roof exterior, sub-floor space as well as property within 30 meters of the building. The inspection also encompasses defects like damage, distortion, leakage, material deterioration, improper installations, etc. as per the specifications. A comprehensive summary is provided at the end of the inspection related to the findings including the general condition of the building, major and minor defects, safety hazards, etc.
2. Pre-Purchase Structural Inspection: This building inspection is undertaken before the actual closing of a sale. This revolves around the general condition of the property to ensure that it was in the same condition as and when the contract was signed. It provides an assurance to the buyer and also leverages to negotiate a better price for the purchase.
3. Building and Pest Inspection: A pest inspection is not mandatory but a necessary step before the purchase of the property. The pest inspection will visually check the area, from the inside to the outside. The inspector would inspect the interior, exterior, roof, fences, etc. for an infestation of pests like termites, wood borers, fungal decay due to excess moisture and other biological hazards. The inspection is a visual process, and only experienced professionals are recommended to do it. The presence of the pests would alarm the potential buyers early on so that adequate damage control measures could be undertaken. The charges can range from as low as $200 to up to $500.
4. Pre-settlement building inspection: The building inspection precedes the closure of the sale and mostly takes place during the day of the contract signing. The terms indicate that the condition of the building on the day of handover to be in congruence with the day the contract was signed. Some of the findings on the inspection can be to check the cleanliness of the house; damage inflicted by the previous owners, proper functioning of the fixtures and installations, cleanliness of outer areas like a garden, lawn, etc.
Some of the things to do to get the most value out of the purchase of property are as follows:
1. Be aware of the property, seller, and the real estate agent.
2. Employ the service of certified inspectors only for all the building inspections.
3. Ensure that the comprehensive report on investigations covers all the details like identities of both inspector and the client, address of the property, date of inspection, weather conditions during the review, limitations of inquiry, defects observed, etc.
4. Ensure the monthly follow-ups to the pest inspection cycle, if needed.
Purchasing a property is a dream of many of us. A lifetime of savings is invested into owning a property. The concept of building inspection is not mandatory, but considering the stakes, it is highly recommended since a 'stitch in time saves nine.’
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