Considering purchasing a property in East Melbourne? Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne have been serving home buyers in East Melbourne since 2010 with more than 5000 happy customers. We guarantee a comprehensive pre-purchase Building and Pest inspection report by a licenced builder in East Melbourne within 3 business days at a very reasonable price. You can see from our reviews what Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne customers value most:
Read on to discover more about what we inspect, plus when and why you need OUR comprehensive pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspection report.
We can arrange same or next day inspections to meet the tightest of deadlines.
Your comprehensive building and pest report with photos is emailed on the same day as your inspection.
Your Melbourne inspector will speak directly with you after the inspection in person or by phone.
Your Inspector is a Melbourne local, experienced, fully insured registered building and pest inspector.
Our inspectors are limited to a maximum 3 inspections per day for quality control.
Very reasonable prices keep us constantly in demand with new customers and referrals.
Many of our customers are referred by buyer’s agent, mortgage brokers & conveyancers.
Our experienced staff go beyond your expectations and provide valuable advice on if the property is likely to contain asbestos, estimated cost of repairs and even building advice if you are considering renovating.
When you buy a property, there are generally two experts on your side, your Conveyancer and your Building and Pest Inspector. Conveyancers rely on our reports and refer our inspection service because it has been perfected since 2010 to provide everything you need, and extra things you want for peace of mind, BEFORE you unconditionally buy a house.
To book we just need your first name, mobile & email, inspection address, agent name & number.
We contact the agent to arrange access Melbourne wide then we email you the confirmation details.
Our Building Inspectors are experienced & fully insured Registered Building Practitioners.
Our Building Inspection is a visual inspection of all accessible areas of the interior, roof void, sub-floor & exterior of the property to detect safety hazards, major defects, minor defects & general maintenance.
Our Inspectors are qualified with full Professional Indemnity insurance.
We do a thorough visual inspection of all accessible areas including the interior, roof void, sub-floor, & exterior of the property for termites & termite damage using state of the art Termite Detection technology, including a moisture meter and a thermal tool to detect termite movement in the walls.
NOTE: Moisture is the cause of ALL termite problems. We apply our Moisture Meter extensively to identify leaks and dampness issues, commonly found in the wet areas.
We take time to explain our findings clearly and simply. Your inspector will speak directly with you after the inspection in person or by phone. You are welcome to call the inspector back after reading your reports.
We will discuss any MAJOR ISSUES with you to help you make any important decisions such as negotiating on price, asking for defects to be repaired or terminating the contract.
Our comprehensive Melbourne Building & Pest Inspection report gives you the Peace of Mind and knowledge you need to complete, renegotiate, or terminate, this property purchase with confidence. One or more photos are included to highlight each defect.
MOISTURE is by far the Number 1 cause of COSTLY building defects and ALL termite problems. We apply our Moisture Meter extensively to identify defects relating to leaking and dampness issues, commonly found in the wet areas.
We conduct the electrical checks that we can by law, including turning on light switches to check for flickering; the condition of the meter box; plus the presence of smoke alarms and safety switches.
Our plumbing checks include flushing toilets to check function and drainage; plus the gutters and downpipes for rust, damage and blockages. We also turn on taps to check for hammering and poor drainage.
In the yard we note defects to boundary fences and gates, the clothesline, garden shed, paths, driveways and retaining walls. The yard is more often less well maintained with more major defects and safety hazards found.
On the roof exterior we check the condition of cladding, fascia/barge boards, flashings, gutters and downpipes, the soffit/eaves and valleys. Broken tiles, rust and water damage are noted. Fungal growth is a sign that water is pooling
Masonry walls are closely examined for defects such as bricks fretting, cracking, damp damage, differential damage, inadequate joint sealant, mortar eroding, blocked vents, visible flashings and weep hole ventilation.
In the exterior, we note the condition of paint, any damp damage or cladding defects; maintenance items for outdoor structures including decks, balconies, patios, verandahs or pergolas; plus defects and safety hazards relating to handrails, steps, stairs and ramps.
In the interior, all rooms are inspected for building defects to the ceiling, doors, floor, painting, walls and windows. We carefully check if the floors are levels, windows and doors function normally and other signs of movement relating to major structural defects.
In the laundry and kitchen, we also note visible defects to bench tops, doors, drawers and cabinets; sinks, splashbacks, taps and waste traps. The rangehood fan is tested for function. Common defects include failed or inadequate waterproofing plus leaking taps and pipes.
Built elements that commonly have defects due to wear and tear in bathrooms include the vanity, basin, bath, mirror, shower, shower screen, splashbacks, taps, waste traps, toilet cistern and pan. Ventilation, and exhaust fan function, is noted.
In the roof space we identify any issues relating to coverage, framing, insulation, parti wall and sarking. We commonly find insufficient insulation, even in new homes. Even when there is sufficient insulation we try our best to enter the roof void to traverse all accessible areas.
For structural reasons, it is very important to check the condition of bearers, joists, piers or stumps; note any cracked or leaking pipes, dampness, ventilation or drainage issues. We recommend removal of debris or stored items that encourage termites and other pests including rodents!
Our pre purchase Pest Inspection investigates for signs of termite damage, live termites and conducive conditions that could lead to termite attack. We report on whether the property has a current termite management system and we advise what you can do to reduce the risk of termite attack to protect your valuable asset.
In Melbourne, your Council may designate areas within the municipality in which buildings are likely to be subject to attack by termites.
The Regulations require all new buildings, including alterations and extensions, built within designated termite-infested areas, to have management against termite attack.
So, if you are buying an established property in a Declared Termite Area, does this increase your risk of termite attack?
The short answer is no, because Building and Pest Control Melbourne have found termites in suburbs all over Melbourne. Yes, all of Melbourne is at risk of termite attack IF conducive conditions exist at your property.
Termites can be the worst nightmare for home owners because of the extensive damage they can cause and because termites can reduce the value of your property. The termite species that cause the most building defects in Melbourne are Coptotermes, which can forage up to 50 metres from their nests and are attracted to moist timbers in your home. Coptotermes commonly nest at the base of a tree but we have found them nesting in sub-floors with poor drainage or inadequate ventilation.
It is important to keep the sub-floor, slab edge and weep holes clear of obstructions because our Pest Inspectors can find termites visually. For example, termites can enter the property by crawling up the stumps, external walls or over the slab edge into a weep hole. Vegetation should be removed to allow visual inspection of the full external perimeter of the property and sub-floors should be visually clear around the full internal perimeter walls and all stumps.
Our Pest Inspectors can also find termites by non-invasive methods using our moisture meter and Termatrac with thermal radar. When we locate an area within a wall with high moisture, we apply the Termatrac to accurately determine if there are termites in the walls
A Building and Pest clause should exist as a condition of a property purchase sale when you buy a home by private treaty. The Building and Pest clause allows you to get written reports from a Registered Building Practitioner and Pest inspector within a set time frame to AVOID BUYING a property infested with termites or with significant building repair costs.
You also have a 3 day COOLING OFF period under standard contracts. We guarantee your Melbourne Building and Pest report within 3 business days of booking our services, so book us as soon as your offer is ACCEPTED!
If the property is going to auction, your only option is to inspect PRIOR to making a BID. Some buyers and vendors prefer to do the Building and Pest inspection before signing any contracts to avoid the need for a subject to Building and Pest clause in the contract. If conditional finance is also approved or it is a cash sale, this removes contract risk.
