There are always surprises when buying a new house but you want to make sure that the surprises are nice ones like "gee I didn't realise there was a cupboard here" rather than "oh no the house has termites"!
A Neighbourhood Inspections Pre-Purchase Inspection:
detects any defects (if any)
investigates the cause of any defect found
gives an opinion on the appropriate course of action needed to rectify an issue
warns of any potential problems
As the buyer you receive :
information on how sound the house is
confidence in your choice
no surprises (potential problems are identified)
an independent, impartial opinion
a same day written report
What we look for :
Poor workmanship in either original construction or renovations and extentions
Non compliant structures e.g. pergolas, garages, extensions, pools and pool fencing
If something is eating your house
Damage from pests
Timber pest attack
Our qualified and insured inspectors look for structural defects both major and minor i.e. foundation movement, over loading of structural members and shoddy workmanship. We then look at defects or damage to secondary elements, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, internal plaster finish etc. Conditions that are conducive to a structural defect including rising damp, drainage to the site, moisture issues, overloading of structural members and more. We look at all parts of the house inside, outside, roof cavity, roof exterior, subfloor, fence lines, gardens, garages and all other out buildings.
The inspections by nature are visual only however equipment such as sounding equipment, microwave detection and moisture metres are used to investigate defects.
Not covered :
Full electrical system tests
Full plumbing system test
External environmental issues e.g. geotechnical, flooding, rescode and feng shui
We provide quick and prompt service. We understand that time is of the essence. Whether a 3 day cooling off period or a pressing auction on the weekend
Our business is geared to delivering your report within 3 days.
From the time you call to the time you receive your report it will never be more than 3 days sometimes less.
That's our guarantee.
We know the importance of having timely information. At Neighbourhood Inspection Services we encourage you to meet us on the site so we can show you first hand what the issues are. Great if you are unsure of building terminology or are more visually orientated. You get a full written report emailed to you or posted same day. If it is not possible for you to be at the house we will give you a call from the site and let you know how the inspection went.
Inspections include photos and detailed descriptions of defects to the house. Other things we look at include the functionality of electricals and plumbing systems however no specific tests are carried out in terms of pressure or voltage. In other words we turn everything on and off and if it doesn't work in a normal manner we comment on this in the report.
Some people believe that to get "my uncle's brother's best mate" to have a look at their new $500,000+ investment (home) is the best way to go when considering a pre-purchase inspection. You buy the house. What if it's not ok? What do you do if termites are discovered just after you move in? Or if overloading of a roof rafter causes a partial collapse to the roof allowing leakage and the ceiling collapses? Determining whether buildings are sound both structurally and termite free is a field of expertise. Common causes of housing problems are not always obvious to someone who is not experienced and qualified in building timber pests. Some things can be picked up such as needing to re-stump, however the reason behind the need to re-stump may be an early warming sign of a much greater problem that could cost big dollars.
For peace of mind get someone who is a professional, fully qualified and insured.
Bruce Leighton's qualifications:
Fully qualified builder
Fully qualified timber pest technician
Associate Diploma of Wood Science - University of Melbourne
