Building Inspection Report details

Blog 3- Building Inspection Report

I have put together a comprehensive guide that details what your building inspector needs to include in your professional building report or pre-purchase building report and Australian Property Building Inspections is a leader in building inspections providing a comprehensive report to you within 24 hours of the inspection.

The site-

• garage, carport and garden shed
• separate laundry or toilet
• small retaining walls (ie. non-structural)
• steps
• fencing
• surface water drainage
• stormwater run-off
• paths and driveways.

Your Building Inspector, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and major regional towns throughout Australia should inspect all accessible parts of the property including:

• interior of the building
• roof space
• under-floor space
• roof exterior
• exterior of the building

You might require your building inspector to examine specific areas of the property, or look at specific items to inspect such as:

• visible signs of asbestos problems
• operable smoke alarms.
• existence of an electrical safety switch

The inspector normally would not check things such as:

• footings
• concealed damp-proofing
• watering systems
• fireplaces and chimneys
• every opening window
• television reception.
• alarm and intercom systems
• electrical wiring and smoke detectors
• plumbing, drainage and gas fitting
• air conditioning
• swimming pools and pool equipment
• carpet and lino
• appliances such as dishwashers, ducted vacuum systems ovens, hot plates and range hoods
• paint coatings
• hazards

Minor defects

Most properties will have minor defects such as blemishes, corrosion, cracking, weathering, general deterioration, and unevenness and physical damage to materials and finishes. If you want the consultant to report on minor defects and imperfections you will need to ask for a 'special-purpose' property report.

When you receive your building inspection report 24 hours after the inspection the building inspection report needs to include the following-

• your name
• the address of the property to be inspected
• reason for the inspection
• the date of inspection
• the scope of the inspection
• a summary of the overall condition of the property
• Any areas that were not inspected and why it wasn't inspected and if necessary, a recommendation for further investigation
• a list of any significant problems that need fixing
• if necessary, a recommendation that a further inspection or assessment be carried out by a suitably accredited specialist, e.g. pest inspector, electricity supply authority, water supply authority, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, surveyor or solicitor.

The Building Inspection Report Summary

The summary is possibly the most important part of the report. The report provides an overview of the major faults (if any) found in the property and its overall condition considering its age and type.

A building inspection report usually will not include:

• an estimate of repair costs
• termite detection
• parts of the property that were not or could not be inspected
• matters outside the consultant's expertise
• minor defects

A building inspection report is a reasonable attempt to identify any reasonable issues that are visible at the time of the inspection. Most likely the extent of any problem will depend to a large extent upon the age and type of property. A building inspection report should not be taken as a complete report dealing with every aspect of the property. While the report will give you valuable expert advice, it will not cover everything. If you are unsure call Australian Property Building Inspections for advice or book an appointment for your building inspection now,