Considering purchasing a property in Wandong? 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 ensure that your building and pest inspection report will be received within a maximum of 3 business days from when you book.
Your comprehensive building and pest report with photos is emailed on the same day as your inspection.
We'll follow up with a no-nonsense breakdown of the findings of your report to ensure you understand the report's findings
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 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
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?
The short answer is no, because Building and Pest Inspection 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 qualified Building 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 Building and Pest report within 3 business days of booking our services, so book us as soon as your offer is ACCEPTED!
The only way to get a Building and Pest inspection for a property under auction is to book it prior to signing the contract. This is a common option for buyers and vendors who don’t want to add a subject to Building and Pest clause into the contract. When finance is approved or it’s a cash sale, it also decreases additional contract risk.
