We all know you’re supposed to have your house inspected by a building inspector before you buy it (if you’re confused about why, we have a great article on that), but does it matter who you get to do it? Absolutely it does. You need a Registered Builder to look at any structure you intend to buy, whether it’s a house, an apartment, or even a commercial property.
There are a number of reasons for this:
You’re making a blind investment: You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it. Similarly, you shouldn’t buy a house without having someone who knows what they’re doing take a look at it first. A qualified and experienced Building Inspector will be able to identify defects with the property that you might not be able to see such as in sub floors or roof voids.
Hidden defects can cost you thousands in rectification: Even if a property looks great on the surface, there could be hidden defects that could end up costing you a lot of money to fix. A qualified and experienced Building Inspector can identify these defects and, in the case of a major structural defect, it becomes the duty of the seller to remedy the problem.
With limited time to inspect a home, you don’t get to see everything in great detail: most people only have a limited amount of time to inspect a property before they have to make a decision on whether or not to buy it. It’s unlikely that you’ll have the opportunity to get up into the roof void or take a look underneath the house at an open home. This means that you might not be able to catch all of the potential problems with the property. A qualified and experienced Building Inspector, on the other hand, will know what to look for and will be able to give you a comprehensive overview of the condition of the property.
You’re potentially missing out on the seller being responsible for fixing the problems BEFORE you buy it: Unless the house is being sold as is, you can, and should, request the seller to ensure all utilities such as plumbing, electrical and gas items are in good working order prior to settlement. If you don’t have a Building Report, you may not be able to claim these costs from the seller.
Be aware of maintenance issues up front: Your qualified and experienced Building Inspector can make you aware of defects before they become a huge problem. For example, if the ceiling is beginning to sag, the report will highlight this defect and provide remedies to rectify the issue before it becomes a bigger problem and very expensive. We can also provide trusted trades to fix immediate defects and help with future maintenance items without breaking the bank.
At Westpoint Building Inspections, I know how a house is put together, and, more importantly, how it can come apart. I have over 22 years of construction experience, a WA Registered Builder for over 12 years, and have proudly served 4 years on the West Australian HIA Technical Committee supporting our state’s building excellence. As a West Australian Registered Builder, I understand the root cause of problems, not just the symptoms, which means my reports not only highlight the defects, but the reason and supported solutions using a network of quality and trusted industry trades, suppliers and consultants. You can be confident you’re in safe hands.
Don’t take chances with just the cheapest quote on something as important as your biggest investment – make sure you get a WA Registered Builder as your Building inspector to give you peace of mind. To discuss a Pre-purchase Building and Timber Pest Inspection, or to book, contact David Davies from Westpoint Building Inspections on 0407 420 569 or send us an email.
