After many years in the real estate industry, we have been asked almost every question you can think of about building and pest inspection in Dandenong.
Often, these questions are asked by first-time buyers and appropriately. If you are new to the real estate market, you may never have needed building planning and pest testing.
- Is building and pest inspection Compulsory?
Generally, yes. building and pest inspection in Dandenong are often a form of purchase defined in the contract of sale. This means that you are buying property under a building and pest inspection. The purpose of this clause is to protect you as a buyer to ensure that you are fully aware of the condition of the property prior to your purchase.
As you can imagine, buyers can easily get caught up in believing that their new home is in good condition just to get in and find a place full of termites. In the past, this has been a sad reality for some buyers when they have not yet made their commitment to getting a building inspection with insects.
Additionally, a building and insect report can give the buyer the ability to negotiate if the property has defects that need to be repaired. The buyer can usually negotiate a sale with the seller or have a discounted sale price based on the fact that the sale has to be made.
- What is Building Inspection? How long does it last?
Building and pest inspection is a complete visual inspection of a building to detect structural defects and wood pest work.
The test is completed in two parts to include both a structural report and an insect inspection. Building inspection is a visual inspection of the condition of a building, highlighting any major and minor problems and safety hazards. Similarly, pest testing is a visual inspection of the area to see if there is any evidence of active termites or previous termite damage.
During the inspection, the house will be monitored with a thermal imaging camera and humidity meter to determine home conditions that allow termite work.
All accessible areas in the area are surveyed including garages, car parks, fencing and retaining walls, as long as they are within 30 meters of the house. Roof space and subfloor will also be considered if it is safe for the inspector to do so.
Since termites can enter the area without warning a few weeks after testing, the report itself is valid for only 4 weeks. Similarly, damage caused by storms or other factors may cause damage to the structure at any time after inspection.
- What can be inspected during a building inspection with insecticides?
There are items that will not be inspected during building and pest inspection in Dandenong as they are not in the inspector's technical area, such as:
- Household appliances – dishwashers, ventilator units, ovens, ovens or heaters.
- Other accessories – CCTV and alarm systems, smoke detectors, electrical outlets, garden watering systems and more.
- Toxic and harmful substances – asbestos, mildew or meth pollution. The report will determine whether the house may contain any of these hazardous substances such as asbestos. However, further investigations and tests will need to be done to confirm the levels of pollution or suspected asbestos.
- Natural Disasters – a building report will not include comments on the potential for flooding or erosion.
If you need any of the above to be tested, it is recommended that you hire a trading relative such as a carpenter or an electrician.
- How long does it take?
Self-testing usually takes an hour and a half to complete, depending on the size of the site. The report will be delivered electronically within 24 hours.
If possible, we recommend that you attend the test so that you can see the inspector's findings and ask them any questions at that time. Alternatively, the inspector can call you later to discuss their findings.
- How much does it cost?
The cost of building and pest inspection depends on the size and location of the area. Inspections of apartments and units start at $ 320 including GST. While testing for closed homes with 2+ bedrooms starts at $ 420 including GST.
If the property you are buying has an extra grandma’s apartment or is on an island, there may be additional costs. This is due to the extra time required to assess additional accommodation and/or travel expenses associated with it.
- What happens after the test?
After building and pest inspection in Dandenong, an easy-to-read report will be sent to you electronically within 24 hours. The report also includes an inspector phone number, so you can call him directly to ask any questions.
Once you have the report, it is your responsibility to read it carefully. The report is designed to help you make informed decisions about whether you would like to continue purchasing property, based on your findings. From the report, you can also decide to negotiate a new purchase price.
