If you plan on buying property in Australia, regardless of if it’s a building or a home, having it get checked out by a building and pest inspector is one of the most important parts of the buying process. When you plan on buying a building, it can be a costly purchase for your business or your family. If it turns out the building has issues you didn’t know about, it can be a very costly mistake to make. It thus makes sense to foot the bill for an inspection yourself to make sure you aren’t getting ripped off. However, the inspection process may be something unfamiliar if you are a first time buyer. Let’s take a look at what a building and pest inspection will look for in Australia.
In terms of pests, they will be looking for some of the worst offenders that you can imagine to find in a building. Typically, pest inspectors will investigate around the outer edges of the building, and underground areas, and near wood to look for termites. Termites are generally one of the most disastrous pests to discover infesting a building, meaning that it’s often better to discover the threat of a termite infestation long before you commit to buying a property.
Roaches are another common pest that you want to know about before buying a building. While roaches aren’t as destructive as termites in regards to the safety and stability of a building, roaches can pose a number of issues. First and foremost they are a health hazard, due to the fact that they can act as vectors for germ and bacteria contamination on food and other consumables. They are often destructive if they nest in boxes of documents, soiling anything nearby. Likewise, if the building is one that will be used as rental property, it will surely be a turn off for any prospective renter if they find evidence of a roach infestation.
The inspector will also look for structural issues and other hazards that may be plaguing the building. The first thing they tend to look for are any signs of cosmetic damage that can indicate something is amiss in the building. One major issue is water damage. Any signs of water stains or even mold can be indicators of heavy water damage to the buildings interior. Other issues they will check for are deficiencies in stairways, unstable walls, damage to walls or flooring, building code violations, fire hazards, and other issues. Keep in mind that most inspectors don’t tend to check for asbestos, as this usually requires them to damage the building. Luckily, you can have a building inspected for asbestos via a separate inspection, which you should consider if you plan on any major renovations to the building.
Building and pest inspections can save you from dealing with a tone of grief and hassle down the road if you buy a property. Mold damage, termite damage, pest infestations, and deficient construction quality will be issues you will have to face if you do choose to buy the property.