Purchasing or building a home is an expensive exercise, and you may want to cut costs where you can save a dollar. But skipping the step of engaging a qualified Building Inspector could cost you a lot more in the long run.
Tradie Mate Versus a Qualified Building Inspector – what’s the difference?
You may think that getting a family member or friend who’s a tradie to look over your future home is a cost-effective alternative, but in the end, it can cost you more money and stress.
While industry experience plays an important part, not every building professional is trained and has the expertise to look for all potential problems. A qualified Building Inspector deals with defects on a daily basis and can offer you knowledge of the overall structure and will be across all building regulations and codes.
An experienced Building Inspector will be able to look for signs that can lead to possible problems in the future at an early stage and the purchaser can make a decision based on those findings, or in the case of building a new home, fix the issues before they become more significant and end up in a costly battle at VCAT.
They are trained and qualified to look for issues such as causes of major cracking to concrete slabs, brickwork or plaster, and water penetrations to areas such as showers and balconies.
A friend in a trade will only understand their own trade defect, unlike a qualified Building Inspector, who is registered with the VBA, who is experienced in inspecting all areas and possible defects.
An independent written report conducted by a qualified Building Inspector, who is registered with the VBA will hold more weight in negotiation power compared to a verbal rundown by a friend in the industry.
We conduct thorough inspections of the condition of the property to identify any existing or potential issues and hazards.
Most common issues found in a Pre-Purchase Inspection
- Moisture issues in bathrooms
Although a tradie may look for any obvious water penetration issues, a qualified Building Inspector will arrive on site with a moisture meter and take readings to determine if the readings behind the walls and tiles are within a normal range. If this defect is missed, the associated costs to repair could go into the thousands of dollars. - Foundation & Subfloor issues
A qualified Building inspector will check the surrounding grounds, reporting on any concerns such as slope of the land that may cause risk of water damage or dampness issues that can result in mould or rot.
If there is safe and easy access, a qualified Building Inspector will check the floor space for any dampness, debris, settlement and rotting stumps. - Roof, Gutter & Balcony issues
We experience some wild weather in Victoria, so making sure your roof is in a sound condition is vital. Cracked tiles, clogged or damaged gutters or incorrectly installed downpipes can lead to major issues in a heavy downpour.
Waterproofing, flashings, roof penetrations are all potential for water ingress and need real focus.
Our inspector Nick recently conducted an inspection of a property, where the buyers were previously aware of a leak in the balcony area. They had anticipated a cost of $10,000 to rectify the leak.
However, our thorough inspection found the issue to be more serious, with a potential cost of $250,000 to fix the defects, which then enabled the potential buyers to make an informed decision, which ultimately saved them from a costly mistake. - Pest issues
A qualified Pest Inspector will arrive armed with equipment such as a moisture meter and Thermal imaging software to determine if there are current pest issues that cannot be seen to the naked eye, or if there have been previous issues that have caused damage or if the property has any markers for future pest issues.
Most common issues found in a New Home Inspection
- Incorrect bracing on frame & frame overhang
A qualified inspector will make sure that the walls are plumb and straight, and the beams are correctly placed to ensure the structural integrity of your build moving forward.
The inspector will check for inadequate treatment of the timber frame that may get moisture damage that can lead to major issues. - Roof, guttering and insulation
The roof, fascia and guttering are inspected to ensure they are up to the current building codes and that insulation is fitted. - Waterproofing
Waterproofing is one of main defects that often results in long and expensive VCAT hearings. Ensuring that the wet areas are waterproofed to code before the tiling stage begins will help to prevent future issues.
Our inspector Nick states that qualified Building Inspectors have the experience of building pitfalls, and specific areas that can cause problems in repeated builds. For example, as a builder I have had my share of water issues. Over the years I have learnt how to avoid water issues and what really needs focus in building a house to avoid water issues. Waterproofing, flashings, roof penetrations are all potential for water ingress and need real focus. We realise the importance of this step and will ensure it’s documented in the report. - Quality of finishes
Your Final Staged inspection will check off the flooring, and reporting on all fixtures and fittings to make sure they are installed correctly. The quality of caulking and painting is also checked off against the Guide to Standards & Tolerances 2015.
If you’re ready to purchase or build your future home, and want peace of mind, movement for negotiation, and protection on your future investment, please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a quote.
We offer a comprehensive range of professional building inspections to meet your particular needs. We service all of Melbourne and inner suburbs along with Bayside, Eastern, Northern, Western suburbs of Melbourne as well as the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsula.
Please call our friendly sales team on 1300 721 032 or email info@spipropertyinspections.com.au