Frequently asked questions

A building inspection, also known as a pre-purchase inspection, property inspection or home inspection is an essential step when purchasing a property and is often added as a clause in a contract for sale.

When you’ve decided to make an offer on a property you should engage a professional, qualified building inspector to undertake an inspection of the property and provide a report - similar to a test drive of a car.

The inspector will attend the property and examine it for any faults, flaws or safety issues. At Tasmanian Property & Home Inspections, we provide a same-day report so you can get on with your purchase quickly, with peace of mind knowing you are making a sound decision with awareness of any issues.

No property is perfect so it is vital to be aware of what repairs or updates may be required.

A pre-purchase building inspection is completely optional but is something every buyer should consider. Without a building inspection, how do you know the property is safe or that it was built to the standards of its time?

Just as you would take a used car to a mechanic or read reviews on a hotel before booking, a pre-purchase building inspection is your way of checking that what you are buying is what you expect it to be.

It is important that you know as much as possible about the condition of a property before you decide to proceed with the purchase. The best way to achieve this is by getting a pre-purchase building inspection carried out on the property and if you are in Tasmania we are just the people to do this on your behalf.

Any building inspection, whether it be a pre-purchase inspection or any other is designed to inform the client of defects or potential defects with a property. This may be cracking due to subsidence or other movement, damp or other issues such as problems with the roof. This type of inspection should always be carried out by a fully qualified, professional building inspector with several years of experience.

A building inspection will let you know of any problems well in advance of any purchase. This information can be used to negotiate a better deal or, in extreme, cases it gives you the opportunity to walk away.

When you have a building inspection carried out on a property in Tasmania, you will be issued with a full, easy-to-understand report that clearly identifies any areas of concern. In some cases, photographs will be included to illustrate and further clarify points of concern but regardless it will be fully compliant with State Government standards. This is why employing the right people to conduct the inspection is essential.

Of course, it is important to remember that some issues may be affected by external factors such as the weather on the day of the inspection. Also, some disreputable individuals may make conscious efforts to hide defects and this may mislead the inspector.

Remember, the report should be used for guidance and should not be relied upon to make a final judgement on the purchase of the property – it is merely a tool to assist with this process.

At Tasmanian Property & Home Inspections, we have a strict checklist of items to inspect and work 100% independently so we won’t hold back when it comes to informing you about the property and its condition.

Our report includes inspection and assessment of:

• Exterior

  • Front yard, backyard, lawns

  • Driveways, paths

  • Fences, boundaries, letter box/street number

  • Roof, fascias, gutters and downpipes

  • Exterior cladding, brickwork, paintwork

  • External doors, windows, flyscreens

  • Taps

  • Lintels, flashings, eaves, fascia and barge boards

  • Verandahs, decking, patios

  • Under timber floor bearers, joists, piers, posts, stumps (where possible and safe)

  • Any ventilation noted

• Interior

  • Entry, hall

  • Lounge, dining, kitchen

  • Bedrooms

  • Bathrooms, ensuites, laundry

  • Kitchen cupboards, benchtops, pantry, splashback

  • Floors, walls, ceiling, skirting and architraves

  • Blinds, curtains

  • Smoke alarms

  • Internal taps

  • Doors and jambs

  • Baths, showers, vanity basins, toilets

  • Stairs

• Pests

  • Termites

  • Rodents

  • Fleas

  • Wasps/bees

  • White ants

  • Other pests

The purchaser pays for a pre-purchase building inspection.

If there are problems identified during the inspection you may have options as per the clause you include in your contract.

It is best to discuss the building clause with your conveyancer or solicitor before making a formal offer.

Our pre-purchase building inspection includes a visual pest inspection, looking for pests including termites, rodents, fleas, wasps and bees, white ants, abnormally high numbers of flies or spiders and ant infestation.

We offer a state-wide building inspection service and will happily travel to any pocket of the state to ensure we can help you make a great purchase decision.

We regularly service clients in:

• Launceston and surrounds

• Hobart and surrounds

• North West Coast, Tasmania

• West Coast, Tasmania

• East Coast, Tasmania