The process of purchasing a property can be an incredibly stressful and nerve-wracking time for most people.  As a result, obtaining a Pre-Purchase House Inspection can seem to be one of the more tedious tasks and is often considered to be a waste of time and money.  However there are a number of reasons why it is critical that an inspection is not forgone for the sake of saving a few hundred dollars or believing that there is no time.

Checking for Structural Issues

Identifying possible structural problems is essential to ensure there are no safety concerns or major cost implications.  Structural issues can cause collapse causing serious injury or death, and identifying the cost to repair any structural issues is important in order to budget correctly for the potential purchase price.  If a structural issue is identified after settlement of a property, you may find that you will be responsible for the cost of repairs in order to conform with the relevant codes and Australian Standards.  Obtaining a building inspection will help you avoid costly rectification works down the track.

Identifying Safety Hazards

When buying a house its always nice to feel comfortable that it is safe and ready for occupation.  A pre-purchase inspection will identify any areas that might be a risk to you or your family.  Some of the things we look for when completing an inspection include:

• Asbestos and other hazardous products and the condition of any identified material.
• Electrical wiring that appears aged or suspect in any way, and the presence of safety switches on the electrical circuits.
• Presence of smoke detectors, and fire protection covers on downlights.
• Loose or inadequate balustrades, handrails or decking.

There is nothing more important than ensuring your loved ones are safe, and a building inspection can assist you with this.

Other potentially costly defects

In addition to the structural elements of the property, our inspectors will also check for a range of other items while on site to ensure there are no hidden surprises after you move into a dwelling.  Some of these include :

• Leaks to water, stormwater and sewer pipes. Any evidence of leaking pipes and damage to surrounding components is well documented while checking in cupboards, under the house, in the roof space and around the house.
• Any evidence of roof leaks are documented and possible solutions recommended.
• Condition of the roof coverings, flashings, gutters, eave linings and fascias is well documented and if any repair work is required.
• External items are also included such as the condition of any pergolas, decks, outbuildings, sheds etc. And whether these structures are adequate and comply with regulations and standards.

These are just some of the many things we look for when conducting an inspection.  Our inspectors can also offer advice on approximate costs of repairs through our personal one on one discussion with you after the inspection has been concluded.

Opting to not proceed with a Pre-purchase building inspection to save a few hundred dollars can often be the biggest financial mistake of your life, and it is critical that you engage a professional to cast their eye over the property to ensure this does not occur.  If you would like to know more about what we do please visit our website, or you can fill out an enquiry form or make a booking here and one of our inspectors will make contact directly to discuss any questions you might have. Or alternatively please call on 1300 729 352.

Other pre purchase inspection articles:

Pre purchase inspections – 4 things you need to know

The positives of a pre purchase inspection

5 Frequently asked pre purchase inspection questions

Pre purchase house inspections – Don’t risk not getting one

1 in 4 Australian homes will be affected by termites in their lifetime. Regardless of whether you are building an extension, renovation, new home, or purchase of an existing property, it is vital for adequate termite protection to be installed to the property to prevent the access of these unwanted pests. If purchasing an existing property, it is critical that the history of the property is obtained and to check if termites have been previously present, or if a treatment has been recently completed on the property.

In our building and pest inspections, many things are taken into account when considering what is the best option for a treatment such as topography of the site, known risk factors of the area and construction techniques must also be taken into account.

In a new home, the builder is usually responsible for the installation of the barrier system and ensuring that it complies with the regulations and manufacturer’s instructions. The owner also has some obligations.

The owner is usually responsible for ensuring that there are regular inspections to detect termite activities. These should be done at least every 12 months and more often in high risk areas and should cover the whole property within the boundary and not just the main building itself. If you do detect termites, do not disturb them or their workings in any way. It will be more difficult for a professional to eradicate them if they have been disturbed. If termites are found, call your builder or a pest control agent. Your local Master Builders will be able to give the names of competent and reliable operators.

Alternatively, Melbourne House Check can offer some contact information for reliable contractors upon booking of an inspection.

The following link is an article from the Herald Sun highlighting the increased risks of termites in Melbourne following last year’s wet spring creating ideal conditions for termite infestation – conditions which have reportedly lead to a plague of the wood-chewing insects.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/victoria/home-invasions-rife-in-outer-suburbs-as-termites-make-a-meal-of-new-developments-20170103-gtlecv.html?client=safari

Last week, a Melbourne House Check inspector completed a Building and Pest Inspection in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne on a house that is less than two years old. Evidence of termite damage was noted to a stair balustrade on the upper level. A mud lead was also found in the sub-floor where they were getting access into the property. The owner had no records of the termite treatment that was installed at the time of construction, and the owner now faces the predicament and potentially costly exercise of figuring out the extent of the damage by removal of wall linings etc. Conditions in the subfloor void of the dwelling were very conducive to termite infestation including excess moisture (damp soil) and inadequate ventilation. A New Home Handover inspection at the time of Practical Completion would have picked up these deficiencies and may have prevented such an infestation.

It just goes to show, new homes are just as susceptible to termite infestation as older homes and termite colonies do not discriminate. Regardless of the age of the home, call Melbourne House Check now on 1300 729 352 to have an inspection completed and put your mind at ease. Or contact us online with any questions you might have at https://melbournehousecheck.com.au/contact-us/

Read our other articles on termite inspections and termite damage

Is your house at risk of termite infestation?

Self diagnosing termite issues

Building inspections also look for termites

Pest inspections in Melbourne – conditions to look for

Our Termatrac radar devices

You don’t need to be an experienced building inspector to know that puddles in the sub-floor void of your home, or a lake on the front lawn are signs of a drainage issue to your property. However many drainage problems are not so obvious. Below is a list of some of the more subtle signs that commonly occur at inspections carried out by our experienced team of inspectors at Melbourne House Check, and how you can save yourself thousands of dollars by identifying these issues now before they become bigger problems down the track.

1. Overflowing Gutters – Apart from actually checking the gutters in the middle of a downpour, some other signs that gutters might be spilling water adjacent to foundations are – dirty streaks on the outer face of gutter or external wall cladding, and paint peeling off the house or fascias in vertical strips are sure signs that there is an issue with the gutters. It might be as simple as leaves and debris causing blockages to downpipes; or perhaps gutters do not fall correctly, creating ponding which may require re-alignment or replacement.

2. Cracks in foundations or brick walls – Small cracks often appear as houses settle over a period of time. However excess moisture in the ground adjacent to foundation, can create pressure that causes the cracks to continue to open up. Any crack larger than 3mm in width can potentially be a problem, and requires attention. Monitor the cracks by recording the width at a particular point. If you notice that the cracks are increasing, you have potential problems and urgent rectification of drainage issues could be required.

3. Damp soil or musty smells in the sub-floor void – These issues are not always obvious to the untrained eye. That is, there does not need to be puddles or mud present in order for moisture to cause wet rot decay to timber stumps or foundation movement to concrete pads or strip footings. Sometimes water stains are visible to the bottom or stumps, or efflorescence to brick walls (white flakey mineral deposits left behind by evaporating water). Often this occurs when external ground levels are higher than ground levels under the house and surface water wants to find its natural low point.

4. Gulley’s carved in landscaping / movement of soil or mulch – You might find after a rainfall that mulch or silt is dumped on pathways or areas where they shouldn’t be. Or gulley’s are carved in garden beds. The water run-off causes this erosion or movement when there is excessive water and it is not draining as it should.

Identifying issues of poor drainage at an early stage is essential, in order to prevent serious structural issues in the future. If you think you have a potential problem but are having difficulty finding the source, inspectors at Melbourne House Check are here to assist you. We conduct house inspections Melbourne wide, so please callfor advice on 1300 729 352. Alternatively, complete our on-line query request form and we will contact you to arrange an inspection.

The attached photos were taken during an inspection this week in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, highlighting why it is crucial to identify and rectify such drainage problems as soon as possible.

A thorough building inspection must involve accessing the roof void of a house, whether it be for a 100 year old property or a newly constructed dwelling. Too often Melbourne House Check encounter issues which greatly affect whether a purchaser may decide to withdraw from a contract of sale, or enforce the builder of a new home to complete rectification works prior to handover of  new property.

Some of the more common issues that we find in houses regularly when accessing the roof void include:

• Missing insulation. This will greatly affect the thermal efficiency of a property, increasing costs in gas and electricity.
• Cracked roof tiles that are sometimes difficult to detect from above, may be able to be detected from the roof void below. Many building inspectors will not walk on a tiled roof of an older home has they age and are easily cracked. We therefore ensure we view both sides to check for potential water leaks.
• Inadequate downlight protectors. Often there is no protection around the downlights to prevent insulation coming in contact with the downlight and is a major fire hazard. Alternatively the protection is made from cardboard or other non-fire resistant product.  This greatly increases the risk of fire in a house.

In addition to these common issues, we sometimes come across major structural defects which require urgent rectification by a builder and/or carpenter where a roof may have sagged or deflected due to any number of reasons including: inadequate propping; size of hanging beams are inadequate; span of collar ties are too great; or the support struts have been incorrectly fitted – just to name a few. Termite attack is also another major cause of structural failure in roof spaces which is why we recommend that a pest inspection is also completed whenever a building inspection is carried out by Melbourne house Check.

Recently Melbourne House Check carried out a New Home Handover Inspection at a property in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The client had just had their dream home completed by one of Melbourne’s largest volume builders, however what we found in the roof space was alarming.  When the heating unit had been installed in the roof space, five trusses in a row had been altered by removing the web (diagonal member of a truss) in order to fit the heating unit in the roof cavity.  No additional bracing had been installed to strengthen the affected trusses, nor advice provided by an engineer or the truss manufacturer prior to Melbourne House Check identifying this issue.  Over time, this defect would be very likely to cause deflection in the roof and indirectly cause a range of other structural problems with the property.  It was fortunate that we were able to identify this issue for the client ensuring that the builder completed all necessary rectification works prior to handover of the house.

It should never be taken for granted that just because a large well respected volume builder is completing the construction works, that everything will be ok.  A final handover inspection for new houses or pre-purchase building inspection for existing dwellings should always be undertaken.

Melbourne House Check conduct new home handover inspections and building and pest inspections Melbourne wide. If you wish to speak with us about a house that you are considering, we can be contacted 7 days a week on 1300 729 352.  Or alternatively, complete our on-line survey request form and we will contact you to arrange an inspection.