When making an offer on a property, you can add in a building and pest inspection clause. This clause will give you time to obtain a detailed building and/or pest inspection report on the property, to allow you to see exactly what condition the property is in. If you then receive the reports back and you are unhappy with the results, you are able to pull out of the contract, as long as you provide a copy of the report to the sellers or their solicitor. Section 4 in the terms and conditions on a contract of sale will provide full details on this clause.

BUILDING INSPECTION REPORTS

A building inspection report is a written account of the property’s condition. It will include any significant defects or problems such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards or a faulty roof. The benefit of getting a building inspection done before buying the property, is so that you know in advance what problems there are, which allows you to gain specialist advice on how they will affect the property over time. Most properties will have minor defects such as blemishes, corrosion, cracking, weathering, general deterioration, unevenness and physical damage to materials and finishes. These minor defects are common as a property ages over time and they are generally nothing to be worried about, they are just included in the report due to the thoroughness of the inspector, which is a good thing. The major defects that are noted in the report are the ones that you need to look into further. On all Ray White Whitsunday contracts, there is usually a condition under the Annexure A that states that a building report may only be deemed to be unsatisfactory by the buyer if the report identifies structural defects or necessary repairs requiring work to be carried that will cost more than $1,500.00 to fix.

Generally a building inspector will check all accessible parts of the property as listed below:
– Interior of the building
– Exterior of the building
– Roof space
– Under-floor space
– Roof exterior
– Site

Always use a suitably qualified person such as a licensed builder, a surveyor or an architect to provide a professional building inspection report of the property. These professions should see through any cosmetic improvements covering up faults that might otherwise be missed by an untrained eye. A professional person will ensure that the format and content of the report complies with the relevant Australian Standard. Ensure that the person you choose has adequate insurance cover, particularly for professional indemnity. It is up to you on who you choose to complete your building inspection. If you are unsure on who to use, our team at Ray White Whitsunday recommend the following local building inspectors:

Whitspec Building Services
www.whitspec.com.au
Contact: Mungo McMurtire
P: 0418 448 223
E: whitspec@bigpond.net.au

Cumberland Homes
www.cumberlandhomes.com.au
Contact: Ray Johannesen
P: 0417 759 103
E: admin@cumberlandhomes.com.au

PEST INSPECTION REPORTS

A pest inspection report will determine whether termites or any other wood-boring invaders are present in the property. The inspector will put together a report that details any areas of concern and this report will also lay out the pest company’s recommendations to cure the problems, including repairing or replacing any decaying wood.

Generally a pest inspector will check all accessible parts of the property as listed below:
– Interior of the building
– Exterior of the building
– Foundation
– Around the windows
– Roofline
– Rafters

On all Ray White Whitsunday contracts, there is usually a condition under the Annexure A page that states that a Pest Inspection may only be deemed to be unsatisfactory by the buyer if the report identifies current activity by termites, white ants or the like in the dwelling itself or any associated structures physically connected to the dwelling.

Always use a suitably qualified to provide a professional pest inspection report of the property. It is up to you on who you choose to complete your pest inspection. If you are unsure on who to use, our team at Ray White Whitsunday recommend the following local pest inspectors:

Amalgamated Pest Control
www.apcwhitsundays.com.au
Contact: Mark O’Connor
P: 07 4444 4313
E: info@apcwhitsundays.com.au

Blue Peace Pest Control
www.termite.com.au/qld/whitsundays.shtml
Contact: Ivan
P: 0409 660 716
E: bluepeace@bluepeace.com.au

Elite
www.elitewhitsunday.com.au
P: 131 580
E: eliteairlie@bigpond.com.au

Source: Fair Trading