You’ve had a building and pest inspection done, so why does your conveyancer now want you to do another inspection before settlement?
A pre-purchase inspection and a pre-settlement inspection serve two different purposes. One helps you decide whether to proceed with the purchase. The other checks that the property is still in the expected condition before you settle.
Continue reading “Pre-Purchase Inspection vs Pre-Settlement Inspection: What’s the Difference?”
Most fine cracks in plaster are cosmetic and can be filled in. However, a crack is worth investigating when it is wide, growing or recurring, or when it runs diagonally or steps through brickwork. The same goes for any crack that appears alongside sticking doors, noticeable floor changes or new gaps between walls and ceilings.
Continue reading “Cracks in Plaster Walls: When Are They a Structural Concern?”
Many buyers assume an apartment doesn’t need the same scrutiny as a house. It’s smaller, often newer, and the common areas are generally managed through the strata scheme. But apartments can still have defects and other issues, making a building and pest inspection worthwhile. It also differs from an inspection of a freestanding house and doesn’t replace checking the wider strata scheme.
Continue reading “Building & Pest Inspection for Apartments and Units: Do You Need One?”
If you’ve ever bought a property in Australia, you’ve likely arranged home insurance before settlement. For some buyers, that’s when unexpected issues surface. An insurer may decline cover or offer a policy with significant exclusions, leaving buyers questioning why the property is considered uninsurable and whether the inspection report is to blame.
The truth is, not every defect makes a home uninsurable. Insurers make their own decisions based on risk, but building and pest inspections often identify the kinds of issues that influence those decisions. This helps buyers better understand potential risks before moving ahead with the purchase. Continue reading “What Can Make a Property Uninsurable”
It is an exciting milestone when your builder advises that the home is ready for handover. But your opportunity to have defects rectified at the builder’s cost becomes much more limited once you sign off and make the final payment.
A pre-handover inspection, also called a Practical Completion Inspection (PCI), is the most important step you can take before collecting the keys to a new build.
This article explains what a pre-handover inspection involves, when to book it, what the inspector looks for, and what you should know before going in. Continue reading “What Is a Pre-Handover Inspection and What Does It Cover?”
Because competition and rapid price growth are exactly the conditions that tempt buyers to skip due diligence. That is when an inspection matters most. A building and pest inspection helps you avoid costly surprises and gives you the confidence to proceed, or the information to negotiate. Continue reading “Brisbane’s Olympic Property Boom: Why Building Inspections Matter More Than Ever”
You spot a crack in the wall, and the first question is usually the same: is it just normal settlement, or could it be a sign of something more serious? Cracks show up in almost every home at some point, but they don’t all mean the same thing, and knowing when to worry about cracks in walls isn’t always obvious at a glance. Continue reading “Settlement Cracks vs Structural Cracks: How to Tell the Difference”
Buying in Brisbane’s growth corridors can offer genuine value, but each area also comes with its own inspection considerations. Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redlands combine older housing stock, flood-prone pockets and rapidly expanding new estates, which is why knowing what to check matters.Â
A professional building and pest inspection, or a handover inspection for a new build, helps you understand exactly what you’re buying before you commit. Continue reading “Buying in Brisbane’s Growth Corridors? Here’s What to Check Before You Commit”
Even certified, brand-new homes in Brisbane can have defects at handover, from waterproofing failures to incomplete or non-compliant work. It is recommended to book an independent handover inspection before settlement, while you still have leverage to get issues fixed before final payment is made.
Continue reading “New Build in Brisbane? Why You Need an Independent Handover Inspection”
These homes stop people in the street. The wraparound verandah, the high-set silhouette, the VJ walls, and the louvred windows. Most buyers have made up their mind before they finish the open home.
The same features that make Queenslanders so appealing also make them one of the highest-risk property types to buy without a professional inspection. Age, all-timber construction, an open subfloor, and decades of varied renovations create problems that are not visible on a casual walkthrough.
Continue reading “Buying a Queenslander? Here’s What Every Buyer Needs to Know”
