The best way of doing this is to get a pre-purchase property inspection report; otherwise known as a building inspection.

 

What is a pre-purchase property inspection report? It is one of the different types of building inspections you can get done. As the name says, this building inspection report is the one you get before you buy a property. Sometimes referred to as a ‘standard property report’, a pre-purchase property inspection report is a written account of the condition of a property. It will tell you about any significant building defects or problems such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards or a faulty roof to name a few. It is usually carried out before you    exchange sale contracts so you can identify any problems with the property which, if left unchecked, could prove costly to repair. Throughout this brochure we will refer to the report as a ‘building inspection report’.

 

Who can do a building inspection? Effective 1 January 2004, only building consultants licensed under the Home Building Act 1989 are permitted to carry out pre-purchase inspections of residential properties in NSW. Other inspections, e.g. pest inspections, do not require a licensed practitioner.

 

What is in a building inspection report? The format and amount of detail in the report will depend on the type of property, its size and age, its condition and the reporting process used by the consultant or organisation preparing the report. These factors will also influence the cost of the report.

   

Some building inspection reports will adopt a standard format or use a comprehensive checklist while others will be individually tailored for each property. Photographs may or may not be included.The important thing is that the report complies with the Australian Standard (AS 4349.1).

 

Why do I need one? There are three good reasons why you should get a building inspection report done before you buy a property:

1. So you’ll know in advance what the problems are

2. So you can use the information to try and negotiate a lower price for the property ie. you may have to pay to repair some of the problems

3. So you can get specialist advice about any major problems and how they will affect the property over time.

 

Of course, the building inspection report will be one of many things you will need to consider before buying a property.

 

The following items would normally be included in a building inspection report:

1. Garage, carport and garden shed

2. Separate laundry or toilet

3. Small retaining walls (i.e. non-structural)

4. Steps

5. Fencing

6. Surface water drainage

7. Stormwater run-off

8. Paths and driveways.

 

For more information, click here to view the PDF.