When to get an Adelaide Building Inspection
Congratulations! You’re looking to buy a home, or at least thinking about the process. Purchasing a property is meant to be a happy and rewarding experience in life. However, the reality is that the procedure is usually anything but a carefree time. There is constantly so much to think about!
Market value, auctions, rates, pushy real estate agents, and stamp duty. The last thing you want is to make the plunge and discover down the track that the home has hidden defects or pests that are going to cause you grief.
In Australia, consumer protection law only covers purchases under $40,000, which means that as soon as you buy, you are responsible for everything; there’s no turning back. If there is something wrong with the home, there’s not much recourse for you. This is where an Adelaide building inspector can help give you peace of mind.
An independent building inspector will assess all the defects of the property and provide you with a detailed list of everything that is wrong —from superficial wear and tear to serious structural problems and even pests. The importance of having a professional take a look before you buy cannot be understated. There are too many post-buy nightmare stories.
The key benefits of acquiring the services of a building inspector are:
- Know what the problems are. By understanding any issues within the property, you can assess whether or not they are significant enough to influence your decision to buy. You can also establish what repair costs might be.
- Negotiate. This is where you can gain leverage. By better understanding the home’s condition, you can endeavour to negotiate a better price if you are going through a private sale.
- Seek advice. A building inspector will provide you with information of the defects, and what type of tradesman/engineer would be your next step. From here, you can establish how these issues might affect a property over time and what the repairs would involve.
The advantages of having a building inspection are quite clear, but not all purchase procedures are the same. So, the question needs to be asked: when should a building inspector visit?
Pre-purchase (Private Sale)
This is the most ideal of scenarios for a buyer. Usually, it allows you more time to check the property and negotiate terms of the contract. If you are getting serious about buying a home that is going to be sold, you can book online or contact us for a quote.
Detail Building Inspections will contact the real estate agent and negotiate when to attend, ensuring that it is stress-free for you from start to finish. Once we’re done, we’ll send you our findings. This will leave you in a more powerful position to negotiate a better price before committing to buy.
But is it always possible?
Picture this: you’ve just found a ripping property, but it is a fast-moving market and you don’t want to miss out. You’ve had your finances sorted, and you’re in a position to sign the dotted line for a private sale, but you haven’t been able to check the full condition of the home. What do you do?
The reality is that it’s not always possible to conduct a building inspection before you sign. However, what you can do is make it a condition of the contract, so that you are protected moving forward. In this instance, it is vital to make sure the wording is correct and clear so that the owner cannot enforce a misleading sale. Enlist the help of a solicitor or conveyancer, so that a satisfactory building inspection is integral to the terms of sale.
Pre-Auction
Once that hammer goes down, there’s no turning back. You are locked in and the sale is unconditional. This is why it is absolutely vital to have a building inspector attend before the auction date. The best time to have a pre-auction inspection is when you first start getting serious about the property. We will negotiate a time with the vendor and send you a report on our findings.
Remember, there’s no cooling off period for an auction so it pays to be diligent. Many serious defects are internal to the structure or invisible to the human eye, so a great looking property can sometimes hide serious problems. By acquiring the services of a qualified Adelaide building inspector, you can attend the auction knowing with absolutely certainty that this is the home for you.
Always Go Independent!
There is a common practice for real estate agents to offer building inspection reports free of charge to prospective buyers. After all, it is in their best interests to push along the sale. However, in this instance, the report may not be as in-depth as you might like.
In the interest of full disclosure, it is critical that you have an independent building inspector attend the property so you can be absolutely sure that there are no hidden agendas.
Contact Us
Detail Building Inspections are a qualified Adelaide building inspector that is here to give you peace of mind. Our building inspectors have an extensive construction background and are qualified in building and pest inspections—in line with the Australian codes and standards. We do not have any affiliation with real estate agents, meaning the report we provide you is objective in its content.
Our aim will always be to provide our customers with an informed view on prospective properties to ensure they are best equipped at the time of sale.
Call Detail Building Inspections on 0412 202 336 to arrange a quote, or book online with us today.
