Building & Pest Pre-Purchase Inspections

For the majority, the largest financial commitment we make in a lifetime is our home.

A pre-purchase building inspection assists prospective buyers to make an informed  judgment on whether to proceed with the purchase or not.

After locating a home that you want the next step is to decide on who should carry out the pre-purchase inspection.

Your best bet is by vetting your own choice of who to use, and there are plenty out there. Often recommendations are made by selling agents, consider this carefully, vendor supplied reports should also be regarded with care.

Inspectors should have relevant qualifications, the more the better, as is the case with our Inspector with tertiary qualifications.

If companies have sub-contractors or employees, ensure that they are individually licenced, for example: a sub-contractor or employee cannot perform a pre-purchase timber pest inspections unless they themselves have the correct individual occupational licence.

https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/start-your-career/which-licence-type-you-need

Some simple tips to consider:

• Take the time to choose carefully

• The actual cost is a consideration, however 'value' for what you will outlay is far more important.

Qualifications / Experience / Education / Reputation

Environ has highly  qualified Inspectors with experience spanning more than 30 years. Our Senior staff are tertiary qualified with extensive background in construction, consulting, asset management and project management, compliance investigations have formed an integral part of this history.

Environ Building and Construction is our Sister company carrying out building and maintenance works across the Townsville region, this underpins the experience and qualifications needed to carry out pre-purchase building inspections.

A pre-purchase building Inspection and comprehensive report is a useful tool obtained prior to the final purchase of a building in that it can give a snapshot of its condition at that moment.

The Australian Standards AS 4349.1 is the accepted prescriptive handbook for all Inspectors to follow as a minimum.

Although the standard prescribes what is to be done, there are many other types of pre-purchase inspections equally as important.

When deciding on the type of pre-purchase building inspection consider the following as value added items:

• Structural
• Non-structural
• Safety and maintenance items
• Timber Pests, Termites, insect or vermin infestation
• Drainage - Site and hydraulics
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Solar
• Trees or vegetation, which may be dangerous or may cause foundation problems
• Roof cover and elements
• A pre-purchase inspection report can also provide cost estimates for repairs which are required to be carried out.
• It is sensible advice to protect your potential investment by finding out everything you can about the property before committing yourself to the hidden expense of unwanted repairs.

What are the advantages of having a pre-purchase inspection?

• To get information to improve negotiating power

• To be informed on likely problems and costs.

• For professional advice and guidance on any particular concerns and advice generally to preserve the condition and structural performance of the building.

• To get a professional opinion on ideas for extensions and renovations.

• For peace of mind.

• To make a better, informed decision, on a property purchase.

• What is the best time to have a pre-purchase building inspection done?

          As soon as practicable, obviously in line with the contract time lines and conditions.

Pre-purchase building reports Australian Standards AS 4349.1-2007

Standards Australia outlines the standard required of all property inspectors undertaking pre-purchase building inspections.

While Standards Australia is an independent company, not directly associated with government, the Commonwealth and State governments are listed among its members.

However, the significant role of standards in any country's working and technical infrastructure means that an intimate and cooperative working relationship with a nation's government is essential. To ensure this, a Memorandum of Understanding has existed between Standards Australia and the Commonwealth Government since 1988 that acknowledges Standards Australia as the main non-government standards body in Australia.

It is therefore necessary for all individuals and parties who conduct pre-purchase building inspections to adhere to this set of conditions and recommendations outlined by the Commonwealth Government recognized body.

The application of the pre-purchase building inspection standard

Australian Standard AS 4349.1 - 2007 applies to all residential buildings including, but not limited to, the following:

• detached (free standing) houses
• semi-detached houses;
• terrace-style houses;
• home units and flats;
• company, strata and community title units;
• villas; and
• town houses and cluster housing

The three appendices are:

APPENDIX  A 

PRE-PURCHASE STRUCTURAL INSPECTION

PURPOSE  OF INSPECTION

The purpose of the inspection is to provide advice to a prospective purchaser or other interested party regarding the condition of the structure (structural elements) of the property

APPENDIX  B

STRATA AND COMPANY TITLE PROPERTY INSPECTION

SCOPE  OF INSPECTION

With strata and company title properties, the inspection is limited to the interior and the immediate exterior of the particular residence to be inspected, as that is the extent of the individual property, and does not include review of body corporate or similar records.

APPENDIX  C

BUILDING ELEMENTS AND SERVICES TO BE INSPECTED

The inspector shall inspect all building elements. The building elements typically present in residential buildings are listed in Tables C1 to C6. Each item shall be visually inspected and limited testing of operation shall be undertaken as indicated.

LInk to C1 - C6