There are many moving parts to buying a house. Understandably, you may have some questions when it comes to the Pest and building Inspection such as, “Why is it important?”, “How much does it cost?” and much more.
In this blog, we hope to put your mind at ease by answering the most frequently asked questions.
What does subject to building and Pest Inspection mean?
Most often, people ask this question because they have received a contract of sale that includes a clause saying the purchase of the property is subject to a building and pest inspection taking place.
This means the sale of the property is contingent upon the outcome of a building and pest inspection. Ultimately, this protects the buyer to ensure that they are fully aware of the condition of the property prior to finalizing the purchase. It also gives you an option to withdraw from the purchase should major defects or significant termite damage be found. You can read more about this here.
Why is a pest and building inspection important?
Pre-purchase pest and building inspections are important for several reasons, including:
- Ensuring you’re making an informed purchase decision
- Gives you greater bargaining power during negotiations (particularly if defects are found)
- Identifies major and minor building defects
- Identifies any evidence of termite activity and/or damage
- Saving you from costly repairs from defects that may have otherwise gone unnoticed
- Gives you peace of mind
- Helps you plan renovations and maintenance
Ultimately, a building and pest inspection is designed to protect you from buying a money pit. You’ve likely heard horror stories of people buying properties only to find the house is plagued with problems or riddled with termites. A pre-purchase inspection helps to prevent this from happening to you.
What is a pest and building inspection?
A building and pest inspection is a visual inspection of a property to assess its current condition. It is two inspections combined into one: a building inspection and a timber pest inspection.
The building inspection is looking to find any major or minor building defects, safety hazards and other issues that may affect the livability of the property. Whereas the timber pest inspection is checking the property for any evidence of termite activity or damage. Termites can cause extensive damage to a property if left unnoticed, so it’s vital to have the home checked for termites as well as simply getting the building checked.
During the inspection, the home is also checked with a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera. These tools assist our inspectors in detecting issues that may not be visible to the human eye. For example, a wall beside the shower may feel dry to the touch but is holding high amounts of moisture.
High moisture readings are concerning for two reasons. Firstly, it may indicate a leaking pipe or rising damp issues in the house. Secondly, areas of high moisture are particularly attractive to termites as they love to eat damp timber. Similarly, the thermal imaging camera helps to detect abnormal hot/cold patterns behind walls that could indicate termite activity.
You can find out more about what’s covered in a building and pest inspection here.
Who organises the pest and building inspection?
Typically, it is the responsibility of the buyer to book the building and pest inspection. As it is considered part of the due diligence process when buying a property. However, on occasion, real estate agents will organise the inspection on behalf of the buyer.
At Local Inspections, the booking process is easy. All you need to do is provide us with your contact details and we’ll organise the rest. We will contact the selling agent on your behalf and coordinate a suitable time for the inspection.
How long does the inspection take?
Each inspection varies slightly depending on the size and condition of the property. As you can imagine, a big 5-bedroom home will take a lot longer to inspect than an apartment.
At Local Inspections, we generally allow an hour and a half for each inspection. This ensures the inspector has enough time to complete a thorough inspection. However, as mentioned above, this timeframe can vary depending on the size.
How much does a building and pest inspection cost?
Like the above, the cost of a building and pest inspection varies depending on the size, condition and location of the property. This is due to the time needed to complete an inspection. For example, an old Queenslander-style home will take longer to inspect than a brand-new property. Likewise, if a property is located on an island, has a granny flat or additional living spaces, it will cost more than standard-sized properties.
At Local Inspections, an inspection for an apartment or unit starts from $340 including GST (April 2023). Whereas houses start from $440 including GST for a standard 2-bedroom home (April 2023). If you would like a quote, reach out to us via our website or by giving us a call on 07 4155 5046.
What happens after the pest and building inspection?
After the inspection, the building and pest inspector will collate their findings into a report. This report is easy to understand, includes coloured photos of defects and is sent within 24 hours of the inspection taking place.
Once you've received your report, you have a few options:
- Proceed with the purchase and settle on the terms set in the contract
- Negotiate a lower purchase price or for the vendor to complete repairs before settlement if major defects are found
- Exit the contract and walk away from the property due to excessive major defects, termite activity or termite damage
Ultimately, this decision is up to you and will vary from situation to situation. For example, one person may be happy to buy a 'renovator's delight' and be willing to do the necessary repairs. Whereas the next person may not have the capacity, budget or desire to conduct repairs and withdraw from the purchase.
Have peace of mind with a pest and building inspection from Local Inspections
At Local Inspections, our inspectors have a minimum of 30 years of experience within the building industry. This ensures you are getting the best quality pest and building inspection. In addition, we only use the latest technology and provide local support.
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