Real estate is a significant investment. You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of your hard-earned money on a property, intending for it to become your family home or prized asset for many years to come.

With that in mind, requesting a building inspection from a trusted, qualified building inspector can be crucial. They can examine your potential new home with a fine-tooth comb to ensure it has no costly problems you don’t know about.

However, if you’ve never purchased real estate before, it’s unlikely that you’ll know what to expect during a building inspection. After finding someone suitable for the job, you can ask them some of the following questions:

Are You Qualified? 

When requesting building inspections in Adelaide or elsewhere in Australia, ask about qualifications, experience, and insurance. While anyone can inspect a building in many parts of Australia, that doesn’t mean they have the necessary credentials for your peace of mind.

A building inspector with the appropriate licences, insurance, and qualifications can protect you and the current building owner. They can also be better positioned to identify potential property problems and provide unbiased information to help you make an informed decision.

What Building Inspection Should I Get?

It might surprise you to learn that there’s more than one type of building inspection. In fact, there are several. This can be overwhelming to know when you’ve never had to request the services of a building inspector before. However, each service offering is suitable for different groups of people.

Pre-Purchase Building Inspections

Whether you’re buying a tiny home in a remote location or an apartment in the middle of a city, a pre-purchase building inspection can be the right inspection type for your needs. Pre-purchase inspections can be crucial for being aware of damage, dangers, or flaws that might affect your buying or living experience.

During a pre-purchase building inspection, inspectors look at as many elements as possible, including ceilings, roofing, windows, and floors. They aim to ensure every accessible property feature is acceptable for your needs. They can also advise of any future maintenance requirements for a property.

Vendor Inspections

Vendor inspections can provide much-needed peace of mind for homeowners wanting to be aware of their maintenance requirements. They might also allow for a smoother, faster sales process. If you obtain a vendor inspection before putting your property on the market, you can be aware of and rectify issues that potential purchasers would find during their own due diligence.

Building and Pest Inspections

Pests can cause a great deal of damage. Often, that damage can be hard to spot. Obtaining a building and pest inspection can alert you to building defects and timber pests, such as wood rot, termites, and wood borers. You can also request a pest inspection on its own if you’re already satisfied with the property in all other ways.

Are Building Inspections Necessary?

Building inspections can seem like a hassle, especially when you have to pay an expert to conduct them. However, you might see them as necessary when they can save you money and a whole lot of stress!

Building inspections, particularly pre-purchase building inspections, provide insight into any issues a property might have. If any problems arise, you might be able to have them fixed by the current owner before you take over possession. Alternatively, the current owner might discount their purchase price so you can cover the costs of remedying problems yourself. At a minimum, most building inspections provide an overview of any structural issues, information on necessary repairs, and insight into electrical wiring and any unsafe areas.

How Much Does a Building Inspection Cost?

Buying a property can be a costly exercise. Alongside paying for the property, you might also have to spend thousands of dollars in lawyer’s fees to own your home officially. With that in mind, asking your chosen building inspector about the cost of their services can be essential. You can then ensure you’ve allocated enough funds for this vital service.

As a general rule, large homes cost more than smaller ones. There are more areas to inspect, which takes more time. The cost of a building inspection can also depend on where in Australia you live. In South Australia, a small unit apartment can start from $495. However, you might spend more than $600 for a family home. You can ask for a general price guide from your local inspector or request a more accurate price when you provide them with an address.

How Long Will a Building Inspection and Report Take?

Property purchases work on a tight timeline. You might only have a limited amount of time to make your offer, a small window of opportunity for a report, and deadlines for going unconditional and settling on a property. As a result, knowing how long an inspection and subsequent report will take can be vital.

Most reputable inspectors are more than happy to work with your schedule. How long a property inspection takes can depend on the property size and whether they find any issues. There is typically no accurate time frame. However, most pre-purchase inspections can take 90 minutes and up to four hours.

Many building inspectors prefer to write their reports while the property is still fresh in their minds. As a result, you might only wait 1-2 business days to receive it.

What Happens If I Don’t Like What They Find?

There are few things as heartbreaking as learning that your dream property has flaws. Most building reports are designed to point out both major and minor deficiencies so that you can use them as a maintenance guide if you decide to take over ownership.

You have many options if you don’t like what you learn in a building report. You might decide to pull out of the sale altogether, saving you from having to make thousands of dollars in repairs. Alternatively, you can choose to negotiate with the seller. Some buyers request that sellers handle all necessary repairs before they sell. However, others are happy to negotiate a lower price to reflect the work that must be done to bring the house up to standard.

Buying a house can be an overwhelming experience, but building inspections might provide all the peace of mind you need. Ask your chosen building inspector these questions above, and you might feel more confident in your decisions for your potential future dream home.