Buying or building a house should be an exciting time in any person’s life. You are making your dreams a reality through hard work and dedication—whether it is through finding a beautiful home environment or looking to capitalise on an investment property. Similarly, in the event of selling, it should be a smooth and seamless process.
Building inspections instil confidence in you as a buyer, but they can also assist in making strategic decisions regarding price or understanding the work required for an easy sell. It is natural to be concerned about making the right choices, as they will help you gain the most financial benefit. However, the nature of the industry in South Australia means that you must be diligent with choosing the right person to carry out your inspection.
Unregulated South Australian Industry
Because no governing body oversees the quality of building inspections in SA, a poor job can leave you out of pocket. Consumer protection law only covers you for products and services under $40,000, which means housing purchases are not safeguarded. Once you have purchased the property, you inherit everything that goes with it—even the problems; this is why finding a qualified professional to prepare a pre purchase inspection report is imperative.
Building Inspection Professionals
Detail Building Inspections prides itself on its thorough approach, supported by numerous recognised qualifications and building experience. The nature of construction means that there are often damages or defects that remain unrecognisable to the human eye; these can jeopardise your financial investment if not addressed. Quite simply, a good building inspector should be able to:
- Establish if the house is safe
- Identify damage caused by termites, climate, plumbing, erosion or any other pests
- Detect asbestos hazards
- Provide detailed information for repair or maintenance
Areas of Expertise
A History of Building
Being a licensed builder is critical to being an effective building inspector. With a National Construction License and Building Supervisor registration, we are equipped to identify many issues that arise from weather exposure, pests, or general dilapidation.
Construction is a continuously changing industry, with approaches to building varying consistently over the last century. It is through our own industry experience that we can recognise how different methods of construction may cause a variety of damages.
For instance, an ongoing shower leak in a 1920s-built home might have an entirely different effect on a contemporary build, merely due to the tile bonding and how they react over the years. It may only appear to be a surface problem, but if it has affected the surroundings we are able to let you know. It is vital information like this that could prove costly if not identified before the purchase. This eye for detail ensures a meticulous approach to our building inspections.
We have extensive experience in both restoration and new builds, meaning we understand how the same problems might affect different houses. This allows us to give you the best advice on the repair process. We don’t just identify the problem; we provide you with an understanding of why it happened in the first place and what the next step should be.
Thermography
Changes in temperature and humidity are often indications that a house that has experienced damage. Analysing these areas can help establish whether or not there is any warm air escaping and the help with the identification of structural or insulation issues. While there is a number of inspectors in South Australia that offer thermography, Detail Building Inspections is only one of two licensed in this practice. Subsequently, we can provide you with the most knowledgeable and useful feedback from our analysis.
Pest Control and Timber Certification
Termite infestation can be disastrous to the structural integrity of a house. They can eat through timber and wood throughout the building, meaning the home could become unsafe and uninhabitable if left untreated. The cost of restoration from a termite infestation can vary considerably, which is why it is so important to identify the scale of the problem. Our certification in timber framing—coinciding with our pest control license (issued by SA Health)—ensure us to adequately assess the extent of structural damage and provide you with in-depth advice on the repair process.
No Hidden Agenda
A significant amount of South Australian building inspectors work purely from real estate agent referrals, meaning information from the inspection may be omitted if it helps the sale go through. We are an independent business whose only aim is to expertly and honestly serve our customers. Subsequently, our building inspections are in-depth, allowing you to make educated decisions regarding repairs, restoration or the estimated sale price.
