It doesn’t matter if you are building or purchasing a property, there are a number of good reasons why you should conduct a building and/or pest inspection.
There is a difference between a building and pest inspection and they are as follows:
A building inspection will reveal any significant defects or problems such as rising damp, ventilation, building movement, roofing issues, safety hazards, construction issues, visual damage that may have been caused by termites, wood borers or fungi just to name a few. This report will not usually include the existence of termites or other wood destroying pests.
When it comes to assessing the property in a timber pest inspection this will reveal evidence of timber pests, visual assessment of the severity of damage caused by timber pests, if the building is susceptible to infestation of timber pests, protective measures required and whether there will be further investigation required. A qualified pest inspector can also identify the pest presence, the type of pest that is present and understand their behavior. This can lead to recommendations of how to solve the problem and how to prevent this happening again
Building and/or pest inspections are not compulsory but they are highly recommended. So when you find that house you love think seriously about these inspections because it could end up costing you in the future if it hasn’t been done in the beginning.
Building inspections should only ever be carried out by suitably qualified, experienced and licensed building inspectors. Never settle for second best.
Good advice. And I second the need to make sure that your inspector is both experienced and licensed. There are a few cowboys out there!
More information on why you should get a building inspection can be found here: http://www.inspectionsqld.com.au/frequently-asked-questions