Considering purchasing a property in Portsea? Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne have been serving home buyers in Greater 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 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 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.
We follow up with a straightforward breakdown of the findings from your inspection report to ensure you understand what was found.
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.
Extremely reasonable prices are what keep us in constant demand with new clients and referrals.
Many of our customers are referred by buyer’s agents, mortgage brokers & conveyancers.
Our knowledgeable staff will go beyond your expectations to provide valuable advice on if the property is likely to contain asbestos, estimated cost of repairs and even builder’s advice if you’re thinking about doing some DIY renovations.
If you’re buying a property, there are generally two experts on your side, your conveyancer and your Building and Pest Inspector. Conveyancers trust our reports and refer their clients to our inspection service because it has been refined over the years to deliver all you need, plus anything else you desire, for complete peace of mind, BEFORE you make an unconditional offer on a house.
To book we just need 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
In Portsea, your Council may designate areas within the municipality in which buildings are likely to be subject to attack by termites.
Termite control measures are required for any new building, including alterations and extensions constructed within specified termite-prone zones under the regulations.
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.
Every property owner fears the news that they have a termite infestation on their property. Termites can affect the structural integrity of a home and cause long-term damage.
There are more than 300 species of termites in Australia, however the most common termite around Portsea is Coptotermes. This species of termite will look for food and travel more than 50 metres from their nest. They are drawn to moist timber.
You’ll find Coptotermes nests at the base of trees, but also in sub-floors or areas with inadequate drainage or poor ventilation.
Before an inspection, ensure the sub-floor, slab edges and weep holes are clear of obstructions. This will make it easier to identify possible termite infestation. Because termites can enter the property by travelling up stumps, external walls and over the slab edge into weep holes, all vegetation should also be removed for easy visual inspection.
At Building and Pest Inspection Melbourne we also use non-invasive methods to manage termites. These include our moisture meter and Termatrac with thermal radar. When our inspectors locate an area with high moisture content, they will apply the Termatrac to determine if there are termites present.
If you purchase a property, a building and pest clause should be included in the contract of sale. This clause will give you a set time period to submit a written Building and Pest report from a qualified inspector and avoid purchasing a property that is in need of serious repair or is infested by termites.
Most standard contracts have a 3-day cooling off period. We guarantee that we’ll provide a building and pest report within 3 days of booking your inspection, so don’t forget to contact us ASAP after your offer is accepted.
For properties under auction, you’ll need to organise a Building and Pest inspection prior to making a bid. When an inspection is carried out prior to signing contracts there will be no need for a subject to Building and Pest clause. If finance is already approved or it’s a cash sale, it also decreases the risk of the contract not proceeding.
