Frequently Asked Questions

Step One

Share the property details and your contact information with us.

Step Two

We’ll send a pre-inspection agreement form for your review and signature.This document lays out the scope of the inspection, what’s included, and any exclusions. It's standard industry practice, so we'll need your signed agreement before getting started.

Step Three

Once you agree to the conditions in the pre-inspection agreement form we will coordinate the property inspection. We kindly ask for payment before we deliver the completed report. 

**Our customer-centric approach is designed to make property inspections transparent and efficient, providing you with valuable insights into the property's condition. If you have inquiries or seek further clarification, don't hesitate to reach out. Your satisfaction is our priority.

The property inspection report is a written account of the property’s condition. It will include any significant building defects or problems such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards or a faulty roof. It is usually carried out before you exchange sale contracts so you can identify problems which, if left unchecked, could prove costly to repair. 

• Knowing in advance what the problems are on a property.
• Using the information to negotiate a lower price for the property ie. you may have to pay to repair some of the problems.
• Gaining specialist advice about any major problems and how they will affect the property over time.
• If you are planning to sell, you can gain insight in advance on areas that may deter buyers. 

Always use a suitably qualified person 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. Always ensure that the person you choose has adequate insurance cover, particularly for professional indemnity.
 

The inspector should check all accessible parts of the property. These include: 

• Interior of the building. 
• Exterior of the building.  
• Roof space. 
• Under-floor space. 
• Roof exterior (single storey).
• Site.
   

You may also ask for a particular item or part of the property to be inspected, such as:

• Visible signs of asbestos.
• Existence of an operable electrical safety switch.
• Operable smoke alarms. 
• The site.
   

• Garage, carport and garden shed.
• Separate laundry or toilet. 
• Small retaining walls (ie. non–structural).
• Steps. 
• Fencing. 
• Surface water drainage. 
• Storm water run-off. 
• Paths and driveways. 
• Make sure you specify any particular items or areas on the site that you would like to be inspected.  
• Other details.
   

• Your name. 
• The address of the property to be inspected. 
• Reason for the inspection. 
• Date of inspection. 
• The scope of the inspection. 
• A list of any area or item that wasn’t inspected, the reasons why it wasn’t inspected and if necessary, a recommendation for further investigation. 
• A summary of the overall condition of the property (considering its age and type) and any major faults founds in the property. 
• A list of any significant problems that need fixing. 
• If necessary, a recommendation that a further inspection or assessment be carried out by a suitably accredited specialist (eg. pest inspector, electricity supply authority, water supply authority, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, surveyor or solicitor).
   

A building inspection report does not deal with every aspect of the property. Its role is to identify any major problems visible at the time of the inspection. The extent of a problem will be influenced by the age and type of property.
 

• Parts of the property that were not or could not be inspected.
• Matters outside the consultant’s expertise. 
• An estimate of repair costs. 
• Minor defects. 
• Termite detection. 
• Footings. 
• Concealed damp-proofing. 
• Electrical wiring and smoke detectors. 
• Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting. 
• Air conditioning. 
• Swimming pools and pool equipment. 
• Watering systems. 
• Fireplaces and chimneys. 
• Alarm and intercom systems. 
• Carpet and lino. 
• Appliances such as dishwashers, ovens, ducted vacuum systems, hot plates and range hoods. 
• Paint coatings. 
• Hazards. 
• Every opening window. 
• Television reception.
• Strata schemes and company title properties. 
• With strata scheme and company title properties, the building inspector will normally only inspect and assess the condition of the interior and immediate exterior of the unit. If you want the consultant to inspect other common property areas you will need to request a ‘special–purpose’ property report.
   

• Problems are difficult to detect due to weather or other conditions such as rising dampness and leaks. 
• The information you provide to the consultant. 
• Areas obstructed by furnishings, personal items, and linings. 
• Areas without access. 
• Problems that may have been deliberately covered up to make an area appear problem-free, such as recently painted ceilings.
  
   

A building inspection report should not be used as a certificate of compliance for any law, warranty or insurance policy against future problems. It is also not intended to estimate the cost of fixing problems, for which a ‘special-purpose’ property report is required instead. 

A building inspection report should not be used as a certificate of compliance for any law, warranty or insurance policy against future problems. It is also not intended to estimate the cost of fixing problems, for which a ‘special-purpose’ property report is required instead. 

Most consultants need a minimum of 2–3 days notice to do a building inspection. You should get the vendor’s permission to have the property inspected as early in the sale negotiations as possible. This will help you decide if the property is worth buying. There may be little point in spending money on conveyancing until you know the condition of the property. 

Most consultants need a minimum of 2–3 days notice to do a building inspection. You should get the vendor’s permission to have the property inspected as early in the sale negotiations as possible. This will help you decide if the property is worth buying. There may be little point in spending money on conveyancing until you know the condition of the property.

Please Note: We strive to return your report within 1 business day*. (this is conditional to inspection up to 12 am).  

When you buy a property in NSW, there is a five business day cooling–off period after you have exchanged contracts. During this period, you may get out of sale as long as you give written notice. The cooling–off period starts as soon as you exchange and ends at 5pm on the fifth business day.

A cooling–off period does not apply if you buy a property at auction or exchange contracts on the same day as the auction after it is passed in. Always check with your solicitor or licensed conveyancer that you have a cooling-off period, and have the process explained to you.

To get a building inspection done during the cooling–off period, give the consultant as much notice as possible. They will have to do the inspection, prepare the report and still give you time to decide and potentially withdraw from the contract.