If you’re buying a house or taking care of one you already own, it’s a great idea to get a building inspection report. A trade professional will assess the building for any potential problems or damage. That way you’ll know if the house is worth buying, or which areas you can get to work on fixing yourself. Think of it like a medical check-up for the building.
Since a house is such a big investment, it’s important that you get an inspection that you can trust. Rapid Building Inspections are one of Australia’s favourite inspection companies and are qualified and accredited trade experts. We caught up with director of Rapid Building Inspections, Daniel Watts, who shared some important tips with us.
What should you look for in a building and pest inspection?
Don’t fall for these common trips or traps during your inspection.
1. Make sure tops and bottoms of doors are checked
The doors in your home may look fine to you, but an inspector should always go the extra mile to check the top and bottom. Often painters neglect to coat these parts, and if they aren’t painted then that allows moisture to be absorbed into the wood. This can damage the doors, causing them to swell and contract. We’ve all experienced a door that is tough to open or close, so make sure your building inspector checks for this important detail.
2. Prevent staircase injuries
It’s easy for a set of stairs to become a hazard or danger in your house. Slipping and falling on stairs can be dangerous and cause all sorts of injuries. Make sure a building inspector checks the stairs for slip prevention and keep your family and yourself safe.
3. Are there lift-off hinges on the toilet door?
The National Construction Code (NCC) has specific requirements for accessibility to bathrooms (in F2.5 of NCC Volume One and 3.8.3.3 of NCC Volume Two), which means that most houses are required to have lift-off hinges installed in order to comply with these safety requirements. Many Australians aren’t aware of this rule, and it’s one thing a less-thorough inspector may not check for as part of the inspection.
4. Make sure they tap the whole house
Tapping on walls is a common way for inspectors to learn about what is happening in the structure of the house. Walls can be hollowed-out by termites or other pests, or they can be dense with moisture build-up. Some inspectors only tap when they see visible signs of a problem, but RBI inspectors will tap their way through the entire house, which means they’re much more likely to catch any problem areas.
5. Are they using moisture-sensing technology?
A good building inspector will always use electronic moisture-sensing technology. Without the use of this technology, it is very difficult to get an accurate assessment of moisture build-up. It’s important that they check any wet areas in the house, like the bathroom and kitchen. Inspectors will be looking for potential leaks and any excess moisture in the walls around these areas. RBI building inspectors all use the Termatrac t3i, which is the most accurate and non-invasive detector available.
6. Check beneath the paint
Don’t be fooled by a fresh paint job on an old house. Fresh paint can often be a sign of the previous owner covering something up. Paint conceals defects such as water damage, termite damage or shoddy workmanship. A good building inspection will look at much more than just the appearance of the house. RBI inspectors will pay close attention to areas that show evidence of fresh paint to check for hidden problems.
What should you do now?
A good inspection gives you the true story about a house and means you can have confidence in your home or new home purchase. Use these tips and tricks to make sure you get a proper building inspection and a thorough building inspection report. If you’d like to know more, visit Rapid Building Inspections. The team at Rapid can help you with a range of services including pest inspections, methamphetamine inspections, depreciation schedules and more.
Head to rapidbuildinginspections.com.au to get a free quote today.
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
