The grotty truth: what a building & pest inspection can reveal about your potential purchase

Building and pest inspections are vital for property investors. Not only do they tell you if a property you are considering is in need of repair, they can also tell you if the property is beyond habitable.

A qualified building and pest inspector takes their job seriously, and goes in to bat on behalf of their clients to ensure the property they are considering doesn’t contain any structural faults, system problems, infestations and more.

If they find something is wrong with the property, they will tell you – it’s that simple

So, if you’ve been considering home inspections in Worongary, Ashmore, Southport or beyond, here is what a professional pest inspection could reveal about your potential purchase.

Structural faults

A building and pest inspection involves a detailed evaluation of the property and its skeleton. This position requires a qualification and plenty of experience, so this is something only professional building inspectors can evaluate. Inadequate drainage systems, footings movement, subpar construction and frame problems can weaken the house and make it inhabitable. The weight of the home itself can even cause cracks, which creates entry points for termites as well as weakens the structure.

Drainage issues

Every home needs clean, running water, but what happens if water is coming out of the wrong outlets? If you have any plumbing problems or drainage issues that have become difficult to control a few days after moving into your new home, you might not be so thrilled with the real estate agent.

To make matters worse, these problems can increase the moisture level which can cause structural problems and attract infestation. So, not only does your potential purchase have plumbing problems, but you also have an infestation to deal with – the perfect recipe for ruining that “new home buzz”.

Termites

Most homes, and most likely your potential purchase, have a large number of wooden items that provide sentimental or monetary value. These are not things you want eaten up by termites. A thorough building and pest inspection will reveal if the property is infested with these unwanted little insects, as you don’t want to find out later that you have an infestation and an antique chaise longue that has been destroyed.

Roof problems

Your roof offers you and your family shelter and protection from the elements, so it’s only natural that you want it to be in prime condition – right? A building and pest inspection will be able to thoroughly evaluate the roof’s structure and whether it is safe to live under. This takes into account dimensions, weight and any faults that may be problematic in the future.

Mould & rotting timbers

Mould can cause serious structural issues in a home as well as make occupants sick. It’s also typically an indication that there is a serious problem brewing in the home itself. If you find fungal decay or black mould in around your house you can’t expect it to disappear any time soon. Your building inspector will be able to tell you if there are any potential/existing mould problems in the property.

Compliance

Many homes are unfortunately built out of line with safety and compliance procedures – this can be a serious problem for homeowners and should be avoided at all costs. However, how can someone who doesn’t have any experience inspecting homes tell if the home is not compliant with safety procedures? This is one of the most important aspects of professional building inspections.