Worried? Hire the #1 Residential Building Inspection Today

Undoubtedly, there are several steps when buying a home. You may start out by inquiring a residential building inspection or setting a list of priorities with an experienced realtor.

You look carefully at your budget and future goals to see what price range fits for you. Next, you have your listings on hand, visit the showings, and feel the reality of owning a home getting closer.

As you narrow down your listings and make an offer, the next crucial step is to engage the building inspection services. You might ask why it’s important when you’ve spent time looking at the property with your realtor and checking in everything’s looking good. 

Well, the truth is, there are reasons go far beyond what you know. In this post, let me help you learn that and discuss the benefits of residential building inspection.

5 Benefits of Residential Building Inspection

Since buying a home is one of the most significant purchases made by most people, it’s important to make sure nothing is concealed. You can’t afford to make assumptions or you might pay dearly for it later.

Sure, some people have more knowledge than others about construction, structural issues, plumbing concerns, and more. Some even combine forces of a well-informed relative or friend. However, none of them can see everything in enough detail to really know the condition of the house and if you must consider a residential building inspection. 

This is why you need to hire a professional. Consider a residential building inspection expert who has a decade or more of experience and adequate tools to work thoroughly. 

1. Building Inspectors Provide a Report on the Property’s Condition

The initial step to finding a residential building inspection expert is to look for a knowledgeable, experienced, and available to help you. Inspectors are usually busy, especially in peak season, so make sure to schedule a call. Ask him if he has time to do the inspection of your property. 

If you don’t know an inspector, ask for referrals, check reviews and references. Look at the company’s website and social media platforms. 

Though it’s no longer required in Australia to have a license when requiring a residential building inspection, it’s still better to choose someone who’s certified. You don’t want someone to work on things they aren’t accustomed to.

Most home inspectors have a standardised format and a checklist of items to inspect. You should expect an organised, written report with several pages of photos with details.

The building inspector will spend hours at the house, inspecting inside and out. Ask them about the procedure as well as the inclusions and exclusions of the report.

2. Building Inspection Reports Provide an Impartial Opinion on the Structural Components

Ensuring that your house is sound is essential. Having any issues in this category can cause inconvenience, worry, and financial concerns.

Compared to aesthetic issues, major structural problems take longer and cost more to fix. Sometimes structural issues aren’t easily recognised. However, experienced inspectors know what to look for and will check to see if the house was built with professional craftsmanship.

Inspectors work for the buyers to prevent paying a property that isn’t up to their standards. Upon receiving a building inspection report, the home buyer will gain peace of mind knowing that no major issues were unstated. 

Negotiations can begin if there are problems, taking the new information into account. The seller or realtor will create a contingency clause into the contract. This way, you could terminate the contract in case something major was found.

3. Unbiased Findings Help Buyers Understand the Current Building Condition

Before the residential building inspection, you can note some possible issues in the home. Look for areas that have water damage spots on the walls or ceilings, windows with broken seals, or black spots on windows or woodwork that could possibly be mould. 

Don’t disregard areas that smell musty or damp or have significant cracks. Make a list and consult with your inspector about these concerns.

Your building inspector will help acquire a better understanding of your property. A residential building inspection will reveal information on the home’s insulation, ventilation, doors, windows, crawl space, and more.

Having a thorough check of plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems will give you a heads up for future purposes. You can expect tests on the furnace, toilets, drains, and water pressure. Electrical circuits, outlets, switches, fuses, and fixtures will also be checked by a specialist.

If there are problems, you can discuss the findings with the seller and make purchase price adjustments. If the inspector gives recommendations concerning the appliances, he can give an idea of its life expectancy, which can help you budget in the future. 

Some building inspectors offer radon testing, others don’t. So, ask if they do or if they can refer someone if they’re interested in the service. If you’re worried about termite problems, consider getting a combined building and pest inspection service.

4. The Exterior Review also Helps Plan for Future Repairs and Replacements

Building inspectors offer a huge amount of information about the home’s exterior. These include the roof, gutters, siding, doors, windows, downspouts, and lighting.

They will also check the condition of the balconies, driveway, garage, patio, porch, sidewalks, and steps. You can expect detailed reports on the condition of your walls, fences, and other structures.

If the home’s exterior isn’t well-maintained, there will be many challenges in it. Most repairs will end up major expenses. That’s why it’s best to know the truth about the condition of the entire property to help with your financial plan.

For example, if the property is older, the inspector will most likely find issues. From that, you decide if you can handle the repair, renovation, or replacement projects.

You can ask anything on the inspector in regards to his expertise and everything he checked on the property. For special features, the inspector can refer you to a partner professional.

5. Helps Buyers Feel Confident About Their Purchase

Building inspections are invaluable to homebuyers. Since purchasing a home is a big decision for any person, it’s important to have it evaluated first. It’s the best way to avoid buyer’s remorse and helps them to save money and give peace of mind.

Final Thoughts on the Benefits of Residential Building Inspection

As we discussed, there are five benefits of residential building inspection. Since the building inspector spends hours at the house, you can expect to know the comprehensive details of the property, inside and out.

If the inspector sees problems in the property, this is where negotiations can begin between you and the seller/realtor. The building inspection report helps to reveal new information into account.

Moreover, having a thorough check of the structure, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems will give you a heads up for future purposes. At the same time, it will help you decide whether you or the seller can handle the repairs or replacements to the property.

I hope that by knowing the benefits of residential building inspection, you’ll appreciate the sense of peace of mind it can give to you. 

For more information about our residential building inspection, visit our Help Centre.