Benefits of a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection
If you are buying a property, whether it is for residential or commercial purposes it is important to invest in getting a licensed pre-purchase building inspection as part of the buying process. It doesn’t matter if you are the one buying or selling the property, you can request a property inspection.
Your inspection will be able to assist you in acknowledging any existing structural issues by looking at elements of the interior, exterior, foundation, shell and outbuildings.
Inspecting a new construction ensures that the building conforms to the initial design plan, that the builders workmanship is of a high standard and that the build adequately meets all national and local codes.
Completing an inspection will let you know if the building is sound or not. This also provides you bargaining power when placing an offer for the property.
What are the benefits of a building inspection?
Older buildings naturally develop problems as they age. However, not all issues and defects are apparent to an untrained eye. The fully qualified team at Detail Building Inspections have extensive knowledge in all areas of the construction industry. Below we’ve listed the main areas that your inspector will look for and how investing in a building inspection can save you money long term.
Interior and Exterior Cracking
Cracks can occur anywhere in a building including the foundation, exterior and interior walls. This is usually caused by the settlement over time, poor workmanship or low-quality materials.
Some cracks are considered to be minor and require easy repairs. However, more substantial cracking indicates structural damage within the home that can potentially lead to the collapse of walls, ceilings, roofs and flooring. Our experienced inspectors will be able to identify any visible cracking and identify signs that may indicate structural issues, saving you significant costs further down the track.
Water Leaks
Poorly joined pipes and fittings as well as leaking taps and water stains on the ceiling and walls are indications that water damage is present in the property.
If ignored water damage can weaken the building shell or roof, damage flooring, ruin furnishing and cause mould growth. Often, extensive damage can occur before visible signs come through. Our inspectors have specialised tools in order to identify leaks and water damage.
Outdated Wiring
Not only is outdated wiring inconvenient as old wiring may not be able to support the power demand from today’s appliances, but it is also a potential fire hazard. Environmental aspects such as dust, salt water and hot conditions can all contribute to the reduction of your wirings lifespan.
Older homes may have old breaker boxes with poor connectors that may not work correctly. With modern families requiring more technical devices, the higher electricity demand on the circuits creates heat, which can cause a fire.
Rewiring a home costs thousands of dollars. When you commission a pre-purchase inspection to be completed on a property, our inspectors will be able to advise you about the home’s electrical systems condition, which can save you thousands in the future.
Pests
In Australia, termites cause more damage to properties than that of natural disasters. At Detail Building Inspections we are specifically trained in completing home pest inspections in properties all over Adelaide.
Termites cause detrimental damages to Adelaide homes and businesses, resulting in substantial repair and management costs.
While termite damage may not be visible straight away. Termites begin their damage from the inside out, leaving only a fragile timber veneer.
A properties roofing timber, top plates, structural wall timber, doors and joints can all be significantly damaged before termites are noticed. Some species of termites also feed on electrical and telephone wiring.
By completing a pest inspection with Detail Building Inspections, we can identify signs of termite damage in the home. We also offer our pest inspections in conjunction with a building inspection as part of your property evaluation.
Rising Damp
In older homes, often they were not built with a damp salt course built into the foundation. This allows moisture from the ground to flow vertically into the properties walls and foundations. Overtime, the home’s masonry and plaster become saturated with moisture.
Salts are then deposited as the water evaporates. As this salt builds up, it attracts more moisture causing mould to develop. If you are noticing that the home has signs of peeling paint, stains on the walls and ceilings as well as mouldy bricks are all signs of rising salt damp problems.
This damage causes building materials to become weakened, leading to structural damage, as well as providing an attractive place for unwanted pests to reside.
At Detail Building Inspections our certified building inspectors use thermal imaging cameras, mould detectors and other tools to identify rising damp.
What You Can Expect from Your Pre-Purchase Inspection
The potential buyer of a property is usually to one to initiate a pre-purchase building inspection.
Feel free to be present at the time of your inspection and ask your inspector questions and anything you be wary about in regards to the property.
Our inspectors will look at areas of concern such as verification of working smoke alarms, asbestos problems, the presence of electrical safety switches.
We will also inspect all accessible parts of the property including foundations, walls, roof space, the site and outbuildings that may be present.
Once the inspection is complete, you can expect a detailed report within a few days of the site inspection. The report will include:
- Summary of property condition
- Age of the building
- List of areas inspected and areas not inspected and why
- List of problems identified
- Any further inspection recommendations to be completed by a specialist
- Repair recommendations
- Any Photographs required
Who do you call?
When buying a property, it is so important for buyers to research and locate as much knowledge about the properties condition as possible. By doing so, you can save yourself thousands in repairs as well as having the power to negotiate a better price overall.
For the best quality, pre-purchase building inspections in Adelaide look no further than the team at Detail Building Inspections. Our highly skilled and professional inspections team will help take the stress out of the buying process.
