As a buyers agent one piece of due diligence I will never skip when buying property is a Pest and Building (P&B) inspection.
A P&B inspection is conducted by a licensed building inspector before you purchase a property. Their job is to assess the condition of the home and identify issues that may not be visible during an inspection.
They’ll look at things like the overall structure and condition of the building, check for termites or other pests and identify any defects, damage or safety hazards.
These reports are detailed - typically 20 to 70 pages long, and they usually cost between $500 and $1000 depending on the location.
Most of the time the buyer pays for this inspection. However, in some areas the vendor will organise one before selling and make the report available to buyers. If that’s the case, I still recommend either arranging your own inspection or paying a small fee to have the report transferred into your name so the inspector remains accountable to you.
During an inspection, the following are key areas need very careful attention because they are extremely costly to fix;
- Foundations
- Footings and subfloor
- Roof structure and ceiling space
- Walls and load-bearing elements
- Drainage issues
- Major defect and safety hazards
Because once you settle, you own the problems.
A good inspector will often pick up signs of structural movement, water damage, poor workmanship, and non-compliant additions or structures.
A detailed P&B report will usually outline: