We receive many questions about local Gold Coast building and pest inspectors and how important the inspections we perform are. In this article, we want to cover the top 10 questions most commonly asked by our clients, so people have a clear understanding of what we do during an inspection, and why building and pest inspections are such an important investment for both buyers and sellers.
1: What is a building and pest inspection and why do I need one?
A building and pest inspection is performed by a qualified, licensed builder/building inspector and qualified licensed pest manager. Using our expertise, we perform a comprehensive inspection of the property you are looking at buying or selling. Leaving no stone unturned, we thoroughly inspect all aspects of a building’s structural condition including the building site, for minor, major, and safety defects. This includes maintenance issues and any potential timber pest damage or infestations found within the property.
We then create an informative inspection report – including pictures and clear explanations of the defects found during the inspection – that our clients can use to make an informed decision about the property they are looking at buying or selling. A building and pest inspection is an important investment prior to buying a property as it ensures there are no major issues that may devalue a property or cost buyers thousands of dollars to rectify if discovered after settlement occurs.
It is also important for sellers to have a pre-sale building and pest inspection on the Gold Coast to find any hidden defects that may jeopardise the contract of a sale. This also gives vendors the opportunity to set the price according to the condition of the property or fix any minor or major issues prior to listing.
2: How much does a building and pest inspection cost on the Gold Coast?
The cost of a building and pest inspection on the Gold Coast can vary between companies. The most important thing to remember is the cheapest option isn’t always the best when such an important task is at hand. After all, assessing the structural condition of such a valuable and expensive asset is a job for a trustworthy professional.
Costs can vary between $350 – $1000 depending on the size of the property. For example, a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit, or a 7-bedroom house with 7 bathrooms. Prices may also vary depending on the type of inspection required, whether it is a building inspection, pest inspection, or a combined building and pest inspection the client is after.
The most important thing when looking into the cost of a building and pest inspection on the Gold Coast is to research your inspector. You want to make sure they are fully licensed for the job at hand, whether it be a building inspector, pest inspector, or both. Most companies should openly display their building license number which clients can double check online with a quick license search that is available on the QBCC website. Making sure the inspectors are licensed is one thing, making sure they are insured is another. Building and pest inspectors should also hold the relevant insurance to perform the work at hand including professional indemnity and public liability insurance that can only be acquired by qualified and licensed professionals with the required experience within the industry.
3: How long does a typical building and pest inspection take?
The time it takes to conduct a building and pest inspection will vary depending on the size of the property. The condition of the property also plays a big part in the time it takes to thoroughly inspect a home. For example, a relatively new home that is well maintained will generally take a shorter amount of time than an older home that has been let go. Generally, a typical building and pest inspection time on a standard-size house is between 1.5 – 2 hours, with reports from Co-Spec Building Inspections being sent through to our clients on the same day of the inspection.
4: What areas of the property are covered during a building and pest inspection?
When your Co-Spec building inspector is performing a building and pest inspection on the Gold Coast, the entire site up to 30 meters from the building perimeter will be inspected. This includes driveways, steps, fencing, earth embankments, surface water drainage, and stormwater. We thoroughly check all external aspects of the building and building materials, looking at external walls, windows, doors, balconies, decks, balustrades, fascia, gutters, downpipes, and all accessible areas of the roof exterior and sub-floor spaces.
When inspecting the interior, we check all floors and floor coverings, walls, ceilings, windows, doors, and frames. All joinery, bench tops, sinks, taps, and hardware are covered. Internal bathrooms and laundries are areas prone to defects, so we flood-check and run all taps, baths, showers, and toilets. We also check all metal flexi hoses for rust and deterioration as well as look for suspect damp issues and leaks within wall cavities by using top-of-the-range equipment like moisture meters and thermal cameras.
We also climb up into the roof space and check the condition of the roof and wall framing, looking for any defects or possible timber pest infestations and damage, insulation issues, and assessing the general condition of the underside of roofing materials.
This is a thorough inspection that takes time and shouldn’t be rushed. With our professional experience in the building industry and general knowledge of the structure of a building, we can give you a highly informative inspection report that covers all basis for you to make an informed decision about the property you are looking to purchase or sell.
5: Can I attend the inspection, and is it recommended to be present during the process?
Yes, you can attend the inspection! The team at Co-Spec Building Inspections Gold Coast highly encourages our clients to come along to the inspection. It’s a great opportunity for clients to have another thorough look at the property they are thinking of purchasing and a great time to ask a building professional any questions they may have regarding the property.
Whilst we are doing our routine inspection around the property, it’s great to have the opportunity to show our clients first hand exactly what we are looking at and show them any defects that will be noted within the report. It also gives clients a chance to have a detailed understanding of any potential issues, whether it’s a major defect that they can further assess or minor maintenance issues that can be rectified quite easily. It’s also a great opportunity to learn what a conducive condition to termite infestation is and how to avoid and amend these areas and learn what to look for when it comes to the early stages of termite presence within a building site.
6: How soon can I get the inspection report after the inspection is completed?
Here at Co-Spec Building Inspections, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the most detailed, easy-to-read report on the market. We know how important it is to have time to thoroughly read the report and make an informed decision on the property you are looking to buy, which is why we have the completed inspection report finalised and sent through the same day as the inspection.
We also offer a call-back service for clients to talk to the inspector once they have read the report so they can answer any questions about what was found and understand what steps are required to have the problems resolved.
7: What if the inspection reveals issues with the property? What are my options?
It is common for most buildings to have several defects come up throughout the inspection, whether they are common maintenance issues, minor defects, major defects, or safety hazards. Depending on the severity of the defects reported, we always suggest getting the relevant tradesman to assess and give their professional recommendations to accurately quote on fixing the areas noted so the buyers are aware of the costs involved to move forward.
From the time you receive the building and pest inspection report, you usually have multiple ways to come to an agreement both parties are happy with prior to settlement.
- You can talk to your solicitor and ask that some, if not all, defects be resolved prior to settlement by the vendor. This is a choice for the vendor and not a requirement.
- Come to an agreement with the vendor after gaining the relevant quotes for the defects to be rectified on your own behalf and renegotiate the overall price of the property.
- Depending on the severity and overall cost of rectifying the defects, it is possible that you can pull out of your contract with reasonable cause.
8: Are building and pest inspections required by law on the Gold Coast?
Gold Coast building and pest inspections are not a requirement by law, they are a decision that is totally up to the buyers prior to signing contracts or sellers if they want to acquire an inspection report prior to listing their property on the market.
A building and pest inspection is highly recommended to buyers. Although some people may have experience within the building industry, a professional and experienced building inspector has an eye for areas that a lot of people will look past. While most people only see a property once or twice for a short period of time before having an offer accepted and forming an emotional attachment to the house, a building inspector will check areas not always accessible to buyers and give you a detailed, unbiased inspection report so you can make an informed decision.
9: What qualifications and experience should I look for in a building and pest inspector?
Firstly, in Queensland, a building inspector must be a licensed builder for a minimum of five years prior to applying for their ‘completed residential building inspection’ license via the QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission). To perform pest inspections the inspector must also hold a ‘pest management technician’ ID card issued by the Queensland government and hold the relevant ‘termite management’ license issued by the QBCC. In order to obtain these licenses, the inspector must have the required insurance in place, including professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance.
These licenses should be openly displayed by the inspector and shown to clients if asked. To further guarantee that your inspector has the required licensing to perform your building and pest inspection, you can check their license number via the QBCC website.
Another way to tell if your inspector has the experience and knowledge to perform a satisfactory inspection report is to check for client reviews on multiple platforms, whether it be Google, Facebook, or Hi-pages.
10: Do building and pest inspectors provide recommendations for addressing issues found during the inspection?
Co-Spec Building Inspections will happily give sound recommendations for areas we have noted as defects around the property. We will also recommend the required trades that can give clients the informative answers needed about having the noted defects rectified and give them accurate quotes for the works required. This makes it easy to negotiate with vendors or make an informed decision about the property you are looking to purchase.
Call us on 0409 693 974 during business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm to speak to Robert.
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