Search Articles

Back To Articles Home

 

Featured Articles

• Growing Frangipani Trees

• Growing Fruit Trees

• Veggie Garden - Build Your Own

• Growing Tomatoes

• Contractors, Subcontractors, and Employing Them

Regular Inspections – Why They’re So Vital

Your home is likely to be the biggest investment that you’ll ever make, so it is important to get regular inspections to ensure you catch any problems before they require a lot of time and expense to repair.  Most people get inspections done before purchasing a home or when building or renovating is complete but inspections need to be carried out throughout your entire time in the home, not only for structural problems but also for termites and other pests.

The Importance of Regular Home Inspections

Depending on the age of your home, it is a good idea to have building inspections carried out every one to five years.  This inspection will visually determine the condition of your home, and both the interior and the exterior will be checked. 

When the exterior of the home is checked, nothing should be overlooked.  Things that should be checked include the exterior walls, the roof, gutters, down pipes, seals around the windows and doors, the flashings, the damp course, and the chimney.  It is vital that the entire exterior is checked to ensure that water does not have a way of entering the home and subsequently causing problems.

In the interior, the inspector should check things such as the heating or air-conditioning systems, the plumbing, the electrical wiring, insulation, ventilation, and fireplaces or other solid-fuel burning appliances.  It is not uncommon for an inspector to pick up problems that the homeowner doesn’t even know exist!

Why Older Homes Need More Frequent Inspections

An older home may require a more thorough inspection than a newer home, and more frequently.  However, when you are choosing an inspector, you should be sure to discuss things such as the cost and the length of the inspection ahead of time.  Ensure that you have a written agreement on the cost of the inspection and also what will be checked.  You should also get a detailed report on the condition of your property.  The inspector should also go over the details of the report with you, pointing out any problems and help you to prioritise what repairs, if any, need to be done and when.

Be Safe and Healthy With Regular Pest Inspections

A pest inspection should be carried out annually by a licensed pest inspector.  As a homeowner, you should also do visual checks of your property every six months, just to make sure that there are no obvious signs of termite infestation.  By getting the property inspected annually, the inspector will be able to detect any problems, and advise you on the preventative or corrective measures that may be needed. 

If the pest inspection report gives your home the all clear, then it is generally not necessary to carry out a spraying within and around the home.  However, if spraying is recommended, the pest inspector should explain why this is so, and tell you what precautions need to be undertaken to protect the health of the family and any pets you may have.

Related Categories