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If you are building, renovating, thinking of buying a new property, or even living in an existing property, chances are that you will need some form of inspection at some stage, whether it is for the building or for pests. Engaging the services of inspection professionals means that you will have peace of mind when buying, building or renovating. You will also rest assured that pests are not damaging your property. We outline the most common inspection services below.

These are commonly called building inspections. The purpose of this inspection is to let you know about the condition of a property before you buy it. Building inspections are normally done before contracts are signed. They are great for letting you know of the hidden costs that may be associated with a property in regards to repairs that need to be carried out and can be a useful bargaining tool when it comes to price negotiations.
These inspections are normally carried out by building consultants and the reports may follow a standard format, use a comprehensive checklist or be tailored for the property that is being inspected. Reports need to comply with the Australian Standard AS 4349.1.
The inspection should cover the interior and exterior of the building, the roof space, underfloor space, the exterior of the roof and the site itself. It should also cover the driveways, retaining walls and outbuildings, wiring and plumbing. Building inspections usually do not include an estimate of the cost of repair, minor defects, or the detection of termites. If you are worried about termites, you will need a pest inspection. The report should include your name, address of the inspected property, reason for and date of inspection, a list of areas that were not inspected and why they were not inspected, a summary of the property’s condition and a list of significant problems that need repair.
The summary is a vital part of the report and it should briefly state the major faults to be found within the property and what the overall condition of the property is.
When selecting an inspector, the inspector should be independent of all other professionals, have professional indemnity insurance, training and experience, and should be willing to discuss the findings of the report with you.
Special purpose property reports cover the same areas as a building inspection does but it also includes an estimated cost for repairs, a list of minor defects, and recommendations as to the repairs and maintenance work needed on the property. Essentially, these reports are an extended version of the pre purchase property inspection.

Strata reports are used for units, townhouses, villas and apartments – properties that have a body corporate or similar ownership scheme. They cover the property’s history of repairs, any proposed costs, the record of building disputes, the insurance premiums, the money in the bank for repairs and maintenance, any special levies, and the harmony of the building.
Strata reports usually only cover the condition of the interior and immediate exterior of the property that you wish to buy. If you want common areas inspected, you will normally need a special purchase property report.
These reports are the same as the pre purchase property inspection report with the difference that is the vendor or seller of the property that gains the report. Vendors will give a copy of the report to any interested buyer so that they can see the condition of the property without having to wait for their own inspection to be conducted.
New home inspections are periodically carried out during the construction of your home. This ensures that the workmanship and materials used in your home’s construction are up to standard. If you are buying a new home already constructed, getting a new home inspection report means that you are able to provide the builder with a list of defects that need to be repaired. This means that everything will be working when you move in.
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