Buying your home is usually the biggest investment that you will ever make and you should do everything you can to ensure that you are getting what you pay for.

Nothing will mar the experience of moving into your new home like discovering that your new home has faults and issues that you weren’t aware of during the sale process.

Bank On It

If, like most of us, you are taking out a mortgage for your new home, then your bank may require you to get a building inspection before they will approve finance. Some banks will ask for a valuation service only, while others will also want a detailed inspection report. Some banks will have their own inspectors while others will give you the freedom to hire an inspector of your choice.

Not a Time to be Cheap

As we are talking about such a big investment, this really isn’t the time to start skimping on spending money. A good inspector may save you years of heartache and unplanned financial expense in the years to come so don’t go for the cheapest, go for the one that is offering the service that you need and who comes with good references. You never know, you may be lucky enough to get the best at the best price as well.

What will an inspector look for?

• Foundations – an inspection will look at the quality and condition of the home’s foundations and will highlight any issues such as rising damp, or anything that will need to be replaced or repaired.
• Roofing – if the roofing is new they will look at the quality, or if the property is older they will look at the condition of the roof and if it needs repairs.
• Wiring – older houses often have old wiring or part-new and part-old wiring. Electrical safety should be of high concern and an inspector will look at the wiring for age and condition.
• Plumbing – are the pipes old or new? Is there any rust? Do the downpipes actually go the stormwater? An inspector will also check the guttering of a house.
• Finishing Touches – are all the splash backs in place? Do all the doors close? What about the overhead fan, does it work? He or she will look at things you may have overlooked.
• Environmental – in Australia, most houses are exposed to conditions which may cause condensation. Condensation may lead to rot or other damage, your inspector will look at this.

Other things to have checked

• Pests – get a pest controller to come in and do an inspection, especially if you are in a termite prone area.
• Fences – are the fences in good condition and most importantly, are they in the right place? Have a look at the property’s boundaries.
• Finance – is the house currently being used as security for another loan? Your conveyance company should be able to check this for you.
• Sewerage – if you have a sewerage pit on your new property you need to be aware of the conditions surrounding this.
• Permits – check with the local council to see if any permits have been granted to surrounding properties for rezoning or subdivision.

Organising numerous people to inspect a prospective property may at first seem like an unnecessary use of time and money, but remember the big picture and the long term consequences of not doing it. A good building inspection is worth its weight in gold.