Looking for an affordable Building and Pest Inspection in Pakenham Upper?
Our customers enjoy:
Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne have been providing quality inspections to Pakenham Upper home buyers for more than 10 years, with over 5000 satisfied customers. Our 3 day inspection turnaround, affordable prices guarantee and comprehensive reports have people coming back time and again.
To find out exactly what is included in our Building and Pest Inspections and why you need our detailed report, read on.
We guarantee a maximum of 3 business days turnaround from booking to receive your building and pest report.
Your comprehensive building and pest report with photos is emailed on the same day as your inspection.
Your inspector will speak directly with you after the inspection in person or by phone.
Your Inspector is an experienced, fully insured and licensed 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 agents, 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.
For most people when they purchase a property there are usually two experts on your side, your conveyancer and your Building and Pest Inspector. Conveyancers rely on our reports and refer clients to our inspection service because we’ve perfected it since 2010 to give you EVERYTHING you need, plus any extras you may wish for peace of mind, BEFORE you invariably buy a house.
For bookings, all we need is your first name, mobile & email, inspection address, agent name & number. We contact the agent to arrange access, then we email you the confirmation details.
Our Building Inspectors are experienced & fully insured Licenced Builders.
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 Pest 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 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 range hood 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
Melbourne’s council can identify areas within the municipality where buildings are likely to be attacked 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 when you buy a well-established home in a declared termite area does it increase your risk of having termites attack?
Quick answer: No, as Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne has uncovered termites in every suburb of Melbourne. Yep, all of Melbourne is at risk of termite infestation IF there are conducive conditions on your property.
For homeowners, termites can be a huge problem. They can cause a large amount of damage and can significantly decrease the value of your property.
In the Pakenham Upper area, the species that causes the most destruction are the Coptotermes Termites. This particular species can travel up to 50 meres from their nests and are lured by moist timber. Most of the time Coptotermes build their nests at the bases of trees, but at Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne we have also found them nesting in areas with low ventilation or poor drainage such as sub-floors.
Termites can gain entry into your property by travelling up old tree stumps, outside walls or over slab edges into the weep holes. It’s recommended that you remove any overhanging vegetation near your property to make it easier for our inspector to carry out an inspection of the full external perimeter. Sub-floors should also be clear, to allow for inspection around the full internal perimeter walls.
Non-invasive methods of termite control are also employed by our pest inspectors. They use a moisture meter and Termatrac with thermal radar. When a high moisture area is located, we apply Termatrac to determine if there are any termites within the walls.
A Building and Pest clause should be included in a contract of sale when you purchase a property by private treaty. You will have a set time period to organise a qualified Building and Pest inspector to deliver a written report on the condition of the property and avoid purchasing a property in need of serious repair or with a termite infestation.
A cooling off period of 3 days is allowed under standard contracts. Call us as soon as you accept an offer, we guarantee a Building and Pest report delivered within 3 days of the booking.
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.
