Table Of Contents
The property inspection report
Buying a property in today’s markets is not an easy task and buyers consider numerous factors before making their final decision. While cost, location, aesthetics, neighborhood, and social amenities are essential when purchasing a building, the most critical element is the pre-purchase property inspection report.
Building and timber pest reports are critical tools for buyers when looking to buy a property. It could save you thousands in long-term costs and help you decide which property best meets your needs.
What is a building and timber pest report?
A building and timber pest report compiles the findings of a property inspection. It outlines the condition of a property, including minor issues and major structural defects. The inspection report can help you discover structural cracks, timber pest damage, and design defects. A building and timber pest report contains the following information:
Visual inspection report
Property inspection reports include details about the visual assessment of all building components, including:
- Internal, floors, walls and ceilings, roof void, wet areas, doors and windows, cabinetry
- External, Roof, gutters, walls, outbuildings, pavements, drainage, fencing, retaining
This is by no means an exhaustive list but an indication of the inclusions of our Visual inspection report.
Building inspectors don’t perform intrusive or destructible inspections of any part of the building to ascertain its structural integrity. Furnishing used to intentionally hide faults cannot be reported, so you have to grant the building inspector full access to all areas of the home to ensure that the inspection is thorough.
Timber pest Inspection
A timber pest inspection includes inspection for elevated moisture readings, conducive conditions to termite infestation, rot, mould, visual evidence of termites in accessible areas, inspection of timbers and stumps around the yard or in the make up of the building.
This is by no means an exhaustive list but an indication of the inclusions of timber pest inspections.
Maintenance report
When maintenance needs arise, the building inspector will make recommendations on the appropriate remedy. This will assist you in getting an idea of what kind of work is to be done to ensure that everything in the home is working correctly. The building inspector will provide you with a detailed report on all defects, including minor ones so that you know the actual state of the property before deciding on whether or not to buy it.
Moisture report
A moisture test is an integral part of any building report. It ensures that your home’s structural integrity and safety mechanisms are not compromised. Non-invasive instruments are used around high-risk areas to check for water levels and capture photos of any elevated readings so all parties are aware of any defects.
Inspection summary
The inspection summary recaps the entire report. This part of your building report gives potential buyers an idea of what condition the building is in relative to other buildings its age and some vital notes for future maintenance work such as regular gas checks or drain check-ups.
What is a bad property inspection report?
A bad property inspection report is a report that identifies some grievous defects in the building that are capable of undermining the deal. While most properties have minor imperfections that can be overlooked, it’s essential to understand which ones are deal-breakers.
Structural damage or movement is a problem that should concern a potential home buyer. Water penetration and unhealthy mould levels may also be indicators of severe issues that require further investigation.
The safety and well-being of everyone living on a property matter. In severe cases, these issues present danger and have the potential to cause harm to those within them. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to withdraw from the purchase if you receive bad building or timber pest reports. The following is a list of red flags you should look out for in a property inspection report.
Plumbing
Although plumbing does not form part of a standard Pre purchase property Inspection, accessible drains are visibly checked for leaks, moisture detection equipment is used in wet areas as should issues be present then building elements are likely tp deteriorate as an accelerated rate.
Roofing
The roof is an essential exterior structure of a building as it shields the interior from the elements. Maintained and repaired roofs are likely to have problem-free functioning tiles, gutters, and downpipes, leading to a more comfortable living environment.
During a roof inspection, the building inspectors look for cracks and corrosion. This includes looking for leaks and ensuring that everything else is in good condition, so you don’t have future problems with water damage.
Structural defects
During a PPBI close attention is paid to floor levels throughout the buildings with cracks, sloping floors and or jamming windows and doors being small indicators of potentially underlying issues. These issues are often patched up prior to sale and are therefor easy to overlook by the potential buyer.
Harmful substances
Asbestos, because of its non-flammable and weather resistant characteristics, was widely used in older houses. Lead is commonly found in paints and as plumbing materials and can harm people when not appropriately treated.
If you’re planning on buying an old house, you need to pay attention to the property inspection report to ensure that asbestos and other harmful substances are not present.
Timber pest infestation
Timber pests can damage structures of buildings made up of timber. If timber pests are not found in the early stages then they can cause irreparable damage to the structure of a dwelling and this is very rarely covered by home insurance policies leaving the new home owner significantly out of pocket.
Timber pest infestations aren’t often easy to find; you need an expert to conduct a timber pest inspection and identify the areas in the property that are prone to timber pests.
Therefore, if your building and timber pest inspection report shows that the house you want to buy is timber pest infested, you need to have a thorough plan on how to get rid of them as soon as you complete the purchase.
How inspection results affect purchase decisions
After the home inspection has been completed, the buyer will go through the property inspection report and review its findings with the building inspector. From there the buyer can approach the agent with one of several scenarios.
Go on and buy the property
If the buyer is satisfied with the condition of the building, the buyer will proceed with the contract as is and conclude the transaction.
Ask that the building be repaired
If the inspection report shows severe defects and safety concerns then the buyer may request that the vendor make some specific repairs to allow the sale to continue. At this time an addendum to the contract should be provided detailing the repairs that will be completed, and signed by all parties. The following are some of the items you could ask to be addressed:
- Moisture intrusion problems in walls, subfloors
- Remove lead paint
- Failings to roof support structure including broken or sagging structural members
- Remove bad elec wiring line
- Remove inadequate heating and cooling
The seller is not bound to carry out these requests or replace fixtures that have reached their end date. After the buyer requests repairs, the seller will respond with either of these three options:
Agree to repair existing defects
Most sellers will agree to repair existing defects. Some don’t carry out a pre-listing property inspection and are not aware of these defects. They will likely accept the recommendation of the property inspection report so that they can secure the sale.
Negotiate the requested repairs
In this scenario, the seller may agree to repair some of the defects but not all. Some will also propose that the cost of the renovation be determined and subtracted from the asking price of the property.
However, not agreeing to repair the building may not be a good option and may not go well with the buyer’s financers. Some mortgage institutions will insist that the property be fixed before they can release funds for the purchase.
Refusal to repair
In some situations, the seller may not agree to either repair or negotiate the terms of the repairs. In such a situation, the buyer can exit the negotiation and therefor not proceed with the contract as long as this is done by the end of cooling off or the time stipulated to get a satisfactory property inspection if this clause was added to the contract.
Cancel the purchase contract
As the buyer, if you feel that the building falls short of your requirement after reviewing the building and timber pest inspection report, you can also decide to exit the negotiation and go check other properties.
Can a home fail a building and timber pest inspection?
The home inspection process does not end with a pass or fail grade. If the findings of your report don’t meet buyer expectations, both parties can agree to fix the issues before further negotiation.
The challenge is when a defect is discovered that needs to be fixed, and the seller refuses to either fix the fault or factor the defect into the property’s price. In such a situation, the negotiation often ends in a deadlock.
Common repairs in property inspection reports
A Pre purchase property Inspection report often indicates issues and some common items that a vendor might repair are as follows. The most common repairs include roof leaks, missing safety switches to electrical systems, the use of dangerous halogen downlights without heat proof safety covers and issues with wet areas and high moisture, improper connections between components within a system (like water pipes), which could cause flooding if not fixed immediately), leaky faucets or fixtures on sinks that are not working correctly due to worn parts.
Hire an experienced hand for your inspection
A pre-purchase building and timber pest inspection is vital when purchasing any property. It offers you the ability to evaluate and determine the proper state of a building.
A home inspector checks every part of the building and comes up with a detailed building and timber pest inspection report that indicates the actual state of the building, and this will help you to decide whether to complete the transaction, ask for repairs or exit the negotiation.
Hiring a reputable and experienced hand for your property inspection is very important. A good home inspector will help you identify flaws that you would not have imagined and, by doing so, save you a lot of stress. The expert will also help you to make a good choice and save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
