Property Inspection Services – A Complete Guide
Home Inspection Services
A home inspector is not just a real estate agent who has some spare time on their hands, instead inspection services are carried out by highly qualified, exceptionally experienced professionals because while you are the best person to decide whether the property is close enough to work and schools and whether the kitchen is laid out in the most ergonomic way, building inspectors can reveal those deal breakers which can be hidden just below the surface and have the potential to be much more inconvenient and expensive than a long drive to work.
When choosing home inspection services you need to know:
- How to choose a certified home inspector.
- How to tell the services of an accurate building inspector.
- The type of home inspection companies to look for.
That is why we have provided you with all of the answers to all of the questions you are thinking, asking and should be asking to ensure an accurate and reliable building inspection.
How is a home inspector certified to do their job?
Home inspectors can come from a range of backgrounds, but whether they began as an architect or an electrician, to work as a home inspector and offer assessments and recommendations of your property they must be certified.
This includes:
- Membership with the International Code Council. Based in the United States, this non-government organisation is responsible for creating building codes and safety standards. Members collaborate to develop safety codes for residential and commercial construction within the US and around the world and as a member of the ICC a home inspector is dedicating themselves and their business to fire prevention and building safety and helping the Council promote a higher quality level of construction.
- Specialised training. Training to become a certified home inspector covers all of the specific areas of a building inspection. This means a home inspector studies mould inspection and sampling techniques for example, as well as methods for assessing the structural integrity of a property even after damage has been done, to accurately pinpoint the cause.
- Being unbiased. A certified home inspector will operate independently and not in association with real estate agents or property managers. As a result many are self-employed or run their inspection services as a small business so the people you speak to when you enquire are often the people you deal with at the inspection to ensure that you always get the most comprehensive help and advice.
- Duty of care. It is the professional responsibility of the home inspector to work solely for the purchaser, not the vendor or the real estate agent. This means you can be assured that you have sought the advice of a truly independent professional.
What are the benefits of a trustworthy, certified home inspector?
There are plenty of DIY guides to home inspection out there you may think you can save on the expense of a professional. However, DIY home inspection is recommended as just one part of a home inspection and while there are some things you can pick up yourself, you don’t have the time, the knowledge, the expertise or the contacts to be able to fully assess a property in the way a certified inspector can.
For example, a certified home inspector will be fully insured to protect you and cover expenses of building or structural issues they may have missed. This includes:
Comprehensive professional indemnity insurance. If you seek the help and advice of a certified building inspector who is covered by indemnity insurance, and you receive a report on a property which doesn’t show any major structural issues or damage, you may then choose to purchase the house. If it turns out that the inspector was negligent and missed a problem with the property, their indemnity insurance covers your claim against them for the damage they missed. This means even if there is a problem with the property, if you go through the correct channels of a certified inspector you and your home are protected.- Public liability insurance. In the course of their inspections, a home inspector is in contact with a lot of people – you and your family, the real estate agent, the current owners and other potential buyers – and if someone is injured while the inspector is carrying out their work or has their tools set up, your inspector is covered with public liability insurance, so you don’t have to worry that it was you who called him there in the first place.
When you have a certified home inspector look over a property, you can also feel assured that the property will be up to Australian standards:
- All building inspections must comply with the Australian Standard AS4349.1
- Building inspectors have an intimate knowledge of the building code.
- The Building Acts and Regulations are followed, as well as any other relevant standards and tolerances.
A trustworthy home inspector will also make themselves available within 24 hours, or for weekend inspections at no extra cost because when an inspection is required, you need to coordinate with the vendor and the real estate agent as well. Your inspector can even help you negotiate a time with the real estate agent for an inspection so you don’t have to worry.
A certified building inspector will also be able to provide you with a written report of the inspection, usually by the next business day. This means you lose minimal time in your search for the right property, and of your settlement period.
You will also be encouraged to be present during the building inspection so you can gain a fuller understanding of how thorough the inspection is, and see any issues for yourself first hand. A full inspection have take up to four hours, so you’ll also receive a report to jog your memory.
What services can be expected from an accurate building inspection?
Seeking an accurate building inspection is not only dependent on finding a fully qualified inspector, you also want to be sure they know what they are looking for, they know what they are looking at, and they look at everything.
That is why an accurate and comprehensive building inspection will cover:
- An understanding of the property. When you build a home from scratch you were there when they laid the slab, you saw inside the timber framing and you know the type of termite protection used. However, when you come along to purchase someone else’s home, you know nothing about the property, but an accurate building inspector’s services can make you feel like you have lived in the property all along, and know everything there is to know.
- Inspection of the exterior of the property. This includes assessments of the drainage and utility feeds.
- The condition of the exterior of the home. The finish on the exterior will be assessed and the quality and condition of the materials.
- Exterior additions. This includes an assessment of decks, patios, porches, stoops and sunrooms for structural quality as well as council approval.
- Driveways, walkways an exterior stairs will be assessed for safety and structural integrity.
- The roof. Including gutters, downpipes, downspouts and chimneys.
- The interior electrical systems.
- Interior plumbing systems.
- Interior heating and cooling systems. Including furnaces and air conditioning units.
- Lighting, flooring and bath fixtures.
- The condition of the walls and ceilings.
The general structural integrity of the property will be assessed, and the report will cover the condition of each of these aspects, as well as recommendations for the cost of repairs, and anything which could be an issue in the future.
A comprehensive building inspection can cost from $300 up to $1,000 depending on the size and age of the property, but your building inspector will allow you to pay for your inspection report in a method which suits you, cash, cheque, credit or direct transfer.
Are there any extras charged on top of a home inspection?
A certified home inspector will offer a comprehensive service and as such all of the following are covered:
- Roof space inspection included. for the roof space to be inspected it must be accessible and Australian Standards for property inspectors state that the roof must be accessible with a 3.3 metre ladder, and have a minimum clearance of 600 millimetres.
- Sub-floor inspection included. If the sub-floor space is not blocked off or boarded up and is easily accessible, your inspector will be able to assess the area, but you may need to notify them in advance that you require a sub-floor inspection.
- A preliminary termite inspection is included. A building inspector will look for evidence of termites and note any cracking or splitting of timbers which could be caused by termites. However, most insurers will not cover a termite inspection unless it has been carried out by a fully qualified pest controller and a specialised pest inspection is approximately and additional $50.
What type of home inspection companies offer the services I need?
Some home inspectors will offer a range of inspection services, while others will proudly specialise in just one area of building inspections. Therefore, make sure you consider the expertise, the qualifications, the experience and the focus of home inspection companies before you choose one for your needs.
Different types of home inspection companies include:
- All service inspectors. Some home inspectors specialise in all areas of building inspections, including pre-purchase inspections, home inspections, building inspections, staged inspections on properties under construction, and assessments of complaint from homeowners who are seeing structural issues such as dampness or cracking.
- Pre-purchase inspectors. These home inspectors deal only with home buyers so they understand your time constraints and will make sure to schedule an inspection for your during your cooling off period. Keep in mind that the cooling off periods differ between the states and territories and you only have two days from the time you sign your contract for sale in South Australia for example, to organise building and pest inspections.
- A new existing home inspector. While you may be considering a new home but you haven’t built the home yourself, if the property is less than five years old you may be tempted to forgo the costs of an inspection for such a new property. However, specialised home inspectors know that it is actually more important to have a property inspected before it is five years old so that any problems can be rectified under the builder’s warranty.
- A new home inspector. If you don’t have the time or the knowledge to keep on top of your builder then you need someone who does because anyone who’s built a new home knows the dramas which accompany the process. Instead, a new home inspector will specialise in assessing each stage of the building process – from pre-contract, to framing, pre-plaster, pre-handover, maintenance, fixing and painting, and pre-settlement – so that you know the job is being done right. A new home inspector is also independent and working for you, not the builder and will negotiate with the builder on your behalf until the property is completed correctly, to a high standard and in accordance with the building standards.
What happens after the inspection?
If your home inspector has noted any problems or repairs are required, they will schedule a follow up appointment if you decide to go ahead with the sale. This will help ensure the repairs are carried out to the highest level, and no new issues are discovered or created in the process.
If mediation is required, your home inspector can act as mediator to resolve issues with the property if both parties agree.
Related posts:
- Benefits of using a Licensed building inspector
- How to Choose an Independent Building Inspector
- New Home Inspections
- Pre-purchase inspection checklist
- Do it yourself home inspection
- Construction Inspector
- What to Look for During a Home Inspection
- Commercial Building Inspector
- Commercial inspection
- Home Inspection Report Guide
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