Building And Pest Inspection On The Gold Coast
Buying a new property on the Gold Coast?
Don’t go into your purchase blind. Make sure you book a quality building and pest inspection with a company you can trust. At Dedant Building and Pest Inspections, we will provide you with the information you need to make an informed purchase decision.
What is a building and pest inspection?
A pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a thorough visual inspection of a property to assess its condition prior to purchase. This ensures buyers are fully aware of the current condition of the property prior to purchasing. It is two inspections combined – a building inspection and a timber pest inspection.
The building inspection checks the property for major and minor defects, safety hazards and other issues that affect the livability of the property. The timber pest inspection involves checking all accessible areas of the property to see if there is any evidence of active termites or previous termite damage. The inspector will also advise whether the termite management system is current.
During the inspection, the house is also checked with a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter, especially around wet areas. The thermal imaging camera detects abnormal hot/cold patterns which could indicate termite activity or possible moisture problems. The moisture meter helps to detect high levels of moisture which can lead to major problems and is conducive to termites.
Afterward, the inspector collates their findings into a building and pest report. This report is easy to read and includes coloured photos of the listed building defects. It also includes recommendations for repairs and further investigation if required.
Why is a building and pest inspection so important?
Purchasing a residential or commercial property on the Gold Coast is a big investment. You don’t want to go into the purchase blind and end up buying a money pit. You need to understand the condition of the property and that you are getting what you pay for.
Building defects can be safety issues or affect the livability of the property. They may require expensive repairs. In addition, termites can go unnoticed for years if the house is not checked properly and the first time you may become aware of their presence is when you put a hand through the wall, at this stage it is too late, extensive damage has been done.
Having an experienced industry professional assess the property prior to finalising your purchase could save you thousands when buying your home or investment property on the Gold Coast.
What do you check during my Gold Coast building and pest inspection?
A pre-purchase building and pest inspection includes a thorough inspection of all accessible areas within 30 meters of the house. This means the building and pest inspector will check the following areas:
- The interior of the property – including walls, floor, ceiling, windows, doors, bathroom, laundry, stairs and cupboards.
- The roof space of the property (subject to safe and reasonable access)
- The exterior of the property – including stairs, garage, external finishes, gutter, eaves, porch, weep holes and ventilation, external door components.
- The subfloor of the property (subject to safe and reasonable access)
- The roof exterior (subject to height restrictions) – including gutter and downpipes.
- The property within 30m of the building being inspected – including fencing, retaining walls, driveways, paths, surface drainage.
Under Australian Standards, there are some items that cannot be checked during a building and pest inspection as they are outside the scope and qualifications of a building and pest inspector. These items can include swimming pools, home appliances, electrical, plumbing, smoke alarms, solar panels and more. Likewise, they are unable to check whether the home is compliant with current building codes, has hazardous substances or the likelihood of natural disasters.
How much does a pest and building inspection cost?
The time and cost of a building and pest inspection vary depending on the size and condition of the property. Understandably, a large highset house with a subfloor will take longer to inspect than a new property built on a slab. In addition, if the property has a granny flat or additional living spaces, it will cost more than standard-sized properties.
At Dedant Building and Pest Inspections, we generally allow an hour and a half for each inspection. Inspections for apartments start at $320 including GST and from $440 including GST for houses (May 2023).
Book a Gold Coast building and pest inspection today!
At Dedant, our inspectors are fully licensed and highly experienced with over 30 years in the building industry. We have been providing building and pest inspection on the Gold Coast since 2009.
If you would like to book an inspection or have questions, contact us on 07 3807 0122 or via our website.
