A Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection is a visual inspection of a property. It is performed prior to finalizing a property purchase and is there to protect the buyer.
Buying a new home is likely to be one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Understandably, you want to make sure the house is in the condition you believe it to be. Nobody wants to move in only to find the home is ridden with termites or major defects. A pre-purchase building and pest inspection helps prevent this from happening by providing a snapshot of the true condition of the property.
What's included in a Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection?
As the name suggests, the inspection is a combination of a building inspection and a timber pest inspection. The building inspection checks the property for major defects and safety hazards and other minor defects. The timber pest inspection checks the property for any evidence of termite activity or damage. During the pest inspection, the inspector will also look to see if the property has a termite management system installed.
All accessible areas within 30meters of the house are checked during the inspection. This can include the yard, fences, retaining walls, exterior walls, patios, carports, internal rooms, roof void and subfloor.
Is the roof and roof void checked during a Building and Pest Inspection?
The roof and roof void are also checked if it is safe to do so. There are limitations to the inspectors checking these areas under Australian Standards. Such as, to inspect the roof, it must be accessible from a 3.6m ladder on a level platform. Likewise, the roof void can only be checked if the manhole is a minimum of 400mm x 500mm and a minimum crawl space of 600mm x 600mm.
Whether these areas are safe to inspect is up to the individual inspector’s discretion. For example, the ground beneath the ladder may be uneven or the gap between the ladder and manhole may be too far for the inspector properly climb up. Likewise, a subfloor full of debris may have dangerous pests and snakes hiding in among the debris, therefore making it unsafe for inspectors to crawl under the house.
Thermal Imaging Camera and Moisture Meter used in Building and Pest Inspection
During a building and pest inspection, the inspector will use a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter. These tools allow for a more comprehensive inspection to take place. As these instruments help the inspectors to detect things that may not be possible to see during a visual inspection.
The thermal imaging camera detects anomalies that may not be visible to the naked eye. Such as, large heat spots in the walls indicating termite activity. It can also sometimes help in identifying raising damp and other water issues.
The moisture meter is used to determine areas of high moisture. As this could indicate significant water issues like a leaking shower or rising damp. High moisture is also a conducive condition to termites as they love damp timber.
Why is a Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection important?
Pre-purchase building and pest inspections are important for three reasons. Firstly, it ensures that you’re making an informed decision about the property. Secondly, it gives you peace of mind. Thirdly, it helps avoid costly repairs for defects that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. A pre-purchase building and pest inspection gives you an understanding of the current condition of the property. With this information in mind, you can make the right decision about whether to proceed with the purchase.
Based on the Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Report, can I exit my purchase contract?
All Building and Timber Pest Inspection reports are completed in accordance with Australian Standards. It is also recognised by real estate agents, lawyers and conveyancers. This means that should you need to exit your purchase based on the findings, you can. However, you must act reasonably. You can find more information about this in a previous blog.
Book a Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection
Have peace of mind about the property you’re purchasing with a building and pest inspection from Dedant. Our team of inspectors are highly experienced and fully licensed. Contact us on 07 3807 0122 or via our website to make a booking.
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