Passing a Building & Pest Inspection and what you need to do (Updated) 2021

Passing a Building and Pest Inspection what you need to do.

As a seller or Buyer, passing a building and timber pest inspection is probably the most stressful part of the sale. We would recommend you get a pre sale inspection done and rectify any major or minor issues found before you put your home on the market. Both the buyer and seller want this process to go smoothly, so be prepared.

Being Prepared.

Getting a building and Pest inspection is very stressful for both the sellers and buyers. So being prepared and knowing what happens during the Building and Pest inspection process will help alleviate your fears. A building inspector will compare the condition of your home with properties that are of similar construction and age. Additionally the Timber Pest inspector looks for evidence of any current or previous timber pest activity. Including, live termites, termite damage , borer evidence, timber decay (rot). Also checks for any risk conditions that attract termites, any termite protection systems and moisture issues and mould.

Make sure you use Two Inspectors.

Separate building and pest inspectors should be engaged by buyers and sellers to inspect a home before the sale. A pre-purchase building and pest inspection is usually done by the buyer who wants to make sure that there are no major defects or timber pest problems with the house before they commit to buying the home.

A pre-sale inspection is done by the seller who wants to make sure that the property has no major defects and is sound. This gives the seller a chance to rectify any issues before placing the property on the market and you are more likely to get the maximum value from the sale.

What does the building inspector check?

The building inspector checks all assessible areas of the property and will not include areas that are obstructed or blocked.

The areas that are included in the building inspection are:

• Interior
• Exterior (brickwork, Cladding etc)
• Foundations
• fences
• Grounds within 30 meters of the main house
• The Sub Floor (under the House-Crawl Space)
• The roof Void
• Roof exterior (Subject to Height Limits and Weather Conditions)
• Pathways and driveways
• Garage
• Out Buildings (Garden shed/Gazebos/carports etc)
• Ground surface/House Drainage ( Gutters/Downpipes/Gully pits)

What does the timber pest inspector Check for?

The obvious is termites. But there are other issues we look for:

• Timber Decay (rot)
• Borer
• Moisture issues
• House Drainage
• Conditions that attract Termites
• Termite protection
• Damage caused by timber pests and safety issues related to these pests.

Pool Safety Inspections.

Does the home have a pool?

You can  ask for separate pool safety inspection or combine these as part of a pre-purchase or pre-sale inspection to either make sure it is compliant and to issue a safety certificate if needed. A pool safety certificate is required when selling your property.

Preparing the Property for passing a Building and Pest Inspection

There are several ways a seller can prepare for an inspection. Most important is to make sure that the inspectors have access to all areas of the property.

Remove any obstructions:  furniture or stored items that obstruct entry points to the interior roof space or Subfloor areas.

Additionally unlock the garage and any other outbuildings. Keep your pets away during the inspection so the inspectors are free to move about. If the inspectors cant gain access to any areas it is marked as not inspected. Then you will have to clear these obstructions for them to come back and re inspect at a later date. This may have an impact on the time frame of the contract. So make sure all areas are free of any obstructions.

Improve The Appearance of the Property

A well-maintained property is reassuring to a buyer and inspectors.

A seller can do some easy maintenance tasks that will improve the look and condition of the property. One of the easiest is to keep the property clean and remove clutter. This will improve the appearance of your home.

Here are some other easy tasks that can be done as part of getting your home ready for the inspection and sale:

• Tidy the garden of leaves and debris.
• Mow your lawns.
• Trim trees and foliage adjacent to the house.
• Check drainage, downpipes and make sure gutters are clear
• Remove exterior obstructions like stored items against the house, wood piles etc
• Make sure doorknobs, hinges and latches are working correctly.
• Replace any damaged fly screens.
• Make sure windows are not cracked or broken.
• Test your smoke detectors and have new batteries.
• Make sure plumbing such as taps and toilets are not leaking and are in good working order.
• Clean gutters and make sure down pipes are clear.
• Repair or replace any cracked or damaged roof tiles.
• Check that windows and doors operate properly

Other things to do:

• Check Fans, air conditioners are working and clean.
• Also Check bathrooms and shower grout and silicone are clear of mould and are in good condition.
• check electrical appliances are working correctly
• Paint/stain any external timber, eg: decking, fences etc.
• Clean pathways, driveway etc.
• Make sure fences are in good condition.
• Check site drainage make sure surface water runs away from the structure.

Have  Important  Documents available.

Building and pest inspectors require evidence of any extension approvals, termite protection notices etc. It is a good idea to show the Termite inspector your most recent termite inspection reports.

What is in a Building and Pest Inspection Report?

The inspectors will summarize the methods used to examine the property in a written report with pictures and explanations of findings. The report will list areas obstructed and not inspected and why. eg: No access was gained to the subfloor due to low clearances. The reports will also list any major or minor defects or problems identified.

How you pass a building and pest inspection.

If signs of damage or issues are present that require further investigation by a specialist, the inspectors will recommend these professionals be consulted.

For example, if there is evidence of damage by termites. The inspector will recommend a more invasive inspection to determine extent of the damage and if termites are active.

QBCC INFORMATION ON BUILDING AND PEST INSPECTIONS

So preparation is the key to passing a building and pest inspection.