Foundation problems. Mould. Water damage. Roof problems.
These are just some of the many horrors you will likely discover in your new home if you don’t hire a Brisbane building inspector. It can be painful to discover that your dream house has a lot of issues but it’s even more painful when you are told that you’ll need to spend an X amount of dollars over repairs, repairs that could have been avoided if you had only invested in a reputable and qualified building inspector.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people are aware that hiring a professional building inspector is necessary. You see, we know that you’re excited. You’re excited to move in, to decorate your new space and to finally occupy it after months of waiting but we also know that most sellers are not in the habit of disclosing the full condition of the property for the sake of acquiring a sale. As a buyer, a buyer who will be spending millions of dollars, you have to be wary of this possibility. You have to make sure that the property you are going to purchase, whether it’s a new home or a commercial building, is a property that is worth its value and one way of doing that is to contact a professional building inspector to evaluate the property and present you with a complete and detailed report of the ins and outs of the building.
As a buyer, you have to keep in mind that looks can be deceiving. Although it’s true that falling in love with a home’s design is one of the key factors that will influence your willingness to buy, you must keep into account the overall state of the home. The role of and what you can expect from a building inspector is to assess the home you are planning to purchase. He or she will record every minor and major flaw the house has and once you get to see the property for what it is, only then will you get to decide if it’s worth it.
Generally, building inspectors follow a checklist. Here’s a sneak peek of some of things they will be checking when you hire them.
- Grounds – there are home and building inspectors who will evaluate the current status of pathways, walls, railings and sheds of the property. They will also check to see if there are shrubs and trees that are in bad shape as well as faulty grading and standing puddles among others.
- Structure – structure is one of the most important factors to consider before buying a property. Is it solid? Are the sides aligned properly? Are the windows square?
- Roof – your building inspector should include assessing the roof for issues in flashing, shingles and fascia since these can result to leaking in your ceiling and it could also lead to loose gutters.
- Building’s exterior – decay, rot, flaking, cracks, dents, blistering – these are just some of the many things your building inspector will check in a property.
- Doors and windows – it may not seem important but if you want to keep the cold or heat in or out and keep your power bill controlled, you must have the windows and doors checked if they are working properly. Your building inspector will check if the frames are working fine because wooden frames tend to rot over the course of time.
- Interiors – your building inspector will check for defective framing as well as stained ceilings as these are indicative of water problems. They will also check if there is sufficient insulation beneath the walls.
- Kitchen – the kitchen is one of the many areas in the building that needs careful inspection. Your professional building inspector will make sure that the range hood fans are venting outside and they will also ensure that there is a GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter within six feet distance from the sink. They will check to see if the sink has no leaks and if the cabinet drawers and doors are functioning appropriately.
- Plumbing – they will evaluate the drains, water temperature, water pressure, pipes and the water heater if they are working fine.
You will know all this and more if you have a qualified building inspector. If you are planning to buy a property, you should include this in your budget.