Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before booking an inspection, from choosing the right report to what happens on the day. If your question is not here, get in touch and we will happily talk it through.
It depends on where you are in the process. Buying an established home usually calls for a building and pest report. Building new calls for construction stage inspections. Selling calls for a Vendors Report. If you are not sure, get in touch with the property details and we will point you to the right one.
A building report covers the structural condition of the property, assessed against AS 4349.1. A building and pest report adds a timber pest inspection to AS 4349.3, covering termites, borers and wood decay, in the same visit. If you want both, the combined report is usually more convenient and better value than booking each separately.
Yes, and this is exactly when it matters most. Timber pests such as termites often do their damage out of sight, behind walls, under floors and in roof voids. A visual pest inspection checks the areas where activity tends to start and hide, so problems are found before they become expensive.
A compliance report checks that structures on a property, such as extensions, decks, sheds and carports, are approved and compliant. In the ACT, unapproved or non compliant work can become the new owner's responsibility, so it is worth knowing about before you buy. Our ACT Building, Pest and Compliance Report includes this check.
Every inspection is carried out in person by a licensed builder with over 15 years in residential construction. That construction background is the difference between a checklist and someone who knows how a home should have been built, and where corners tend to get cut.
Thermal imaging is used alongside the visual inspection to help find issues that are not visible to the naked eye, such as moisture behind walls and defects hidden beneath finished surfaces. It adds another layer to the inspection beyond what a visual check alone can pick up.
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Being there means we can walk you through what we are seeing and answer your questions on the spot, which is often more useful than reading it later in the report.
Wherever it can be safely accessed, we inspect the roof space, subfloor, interior, exterior, and the grounds including outbuildings and fencing within the property boundary. If an area cannot be safely accessed, the report will note that clearly rather than guess.
Most reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours of the inspection. It is not an instant, same day report, and that is deliberate. The extra time allows for a proper assessment rather than a rushed checklist, while still giving you time to act within tight contract deadlines.
The report sets out what was found, why it matters and what it means for your decision, in plain English. Every finding is backed by clear photos, so you can see exactly what was found and where, not just read a description. Where relevant, it gives a sense of what an issue is likely to take to put right.
Pricing depends on the type of inspection and the size and complexity of the property. Each service page lists its price, and a firm quote is always provided before booking. If you would like a quote, get in touch with the property details and we will sort one out.
All of Canberra, the ACT and the surrounding NSW region, including Queanbeyan, Googong, Yass, Murrumbateman, Sutton, Gundaroo, Bungendore and Goulburn. If your property is a little further out, just ask. We are happy to travel.
Call, email or fill in the booking form with the property address, the type of inspection you need and your timeframe. The sooner the better, especially if you are working to a cooling off period or settlement date, but we understand these things move quickly and will do what we can to fit you in.
During construction, not just at the end. Our construction stage inspections align to the standard HIA and MBA payment milestones, covering stages such as slab, frame, lock up, waterproofing and practical completion. Inspecting at each stage means defects can be found and fixed before you release that progress payment, and before the next stage covers them up.
Getting a Vendors Report done before you list puts you in control. You find out about any issues before a buyer's inspector does, which gives you the chance to fix them, price accordingly, or simply be upfront, rather than having a sale fall over late in the process. It is an independent alternative to using the agent's preferred inspector.
