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May 23 2018

Make an offer before or after an inspection? A homebuyer’s guide | House Inspections Melbourne

Building inspection – make an offer before or after your house inspection?

We all know how important a building inspection is. Before settling in at a new home you want to make sure that there are no issues regarding the integrity of the building. So the question is: do you make an offer before or after completing a building inspection?

There has been great debate surrounding this question. This is due to many who have been burned by taking this decision too lightly. So let’s weigh the options now so you can decide for yourself when the inspection should occur!

Inspecting before

Pros:

You may come across issues that will stop you from moving forward with purchasing that particular property before investing a large sum of money.
Not all offers have to contain a contingency agreement in respect to the inspection. By doing a building inspection beforehand you ensure that you won’t end up in a house with multiple and costly issues.
You’ll have all the facts before placing an offer on the property. While the seller may have conducted a house inspection previously, it never hurts to have your own inspection done. This ensures you have the correct information before making a big decision. Having a second opinion can be the make or break in your decision making process.
If you choose to forego making an offer, you may avoid other costs elicited in the contract. Shelling out a few extra hundred dollars is a valuable investment and as my mum has taught me, it’s better to be be safe than sorry!

Cons:

With no contract in place, there is a chance the seller may go with another buyer while you are in the process of the inspection. Of course this depends upon whether or not the house is in high demand or if it’s in a popular location.
After placing an offer you still may not be able to come to terms with the seller. This means if there are possible issues, they may choose not to do anything about it. In turn, this will result in another expense for you as the buyer.

Inspecting after

Pros:

Oftentimes when purchasing a house, you’re able to make an offer contingent upon a house inspection. In this case you won’t be losing any money upfront.
If there is a contingency agreement regarding the inspection, then you’re able to negotiate the terms of the contract or back out of the house altogether – depending on the agreement of course.

Cons:

With no contingency agreement in place you may be stuck with the house you purchase! This is inclusive of roofing issues, mold, termites and any other problems you may have not been aware of at the time of purchase.
If the issues found within the property are outrageous and you decide to terminate the purchasing contract you will have to pay your way out. In Victoria you have a three business day ‘cooling off period’ from the date of the signed contract to back out at 0.2% of the purchasing price. This could be quite a hefty fee to pay for simply foregoing a house inspection prior to placing an offer!

The verdict

Purchasing a house is a big decision. It really comes down to the conditions surrounding the contract when choosing the best time to do a house inspection. With this being said, the pros greatly outweigh the cons in most cases with a pre-purchase inspection. Making the decision to get your house inspected before making an offer will usually be your best bet!

No matter if you decide to make an offer before or after you complete a house inspection, it’s important to remember that they are a vital part of the house purchasing experience. I promise it will be of use to you in the long run! Contact us today to get started and book your inspection.

May 14 2018

Building and Pest Inspection Richmond

Richmond Building and Pest Inspection

Take a look at the most recent Richmond building and pest inspection that our team at Housed Inspections Melbourne conducted. If you think you’ve finally found the right place, the next step will be to book your building and pest inspection.

Our team went out to assess a house in Richmond recently. Richmond is a beautiful inner suburb of Melbourne. Only 3km out of the CBD it’s the perfect area for just about anyone! The area has plenty of restaurants and bars, parks and three main commercial streets. This makes it great for young singles, as well as families and everything in between.

At House Inspections Melbourne, we pride ourselves in focusing on the details to make sure a house is safe. While assessing this house in Richmond, we came to the conclusion that many aspects of the house were unsafe. After an in depth inspection we suspected that the lining of the ceiling and walls in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room may contain asbestos. Knowing the horrible health effects asbestos can have, House Inspections Melbourne always recommends further testing.

Besides the possible asbestos, we found fungal damage and damaged glass on the windows and unlevelled floors throughout most of the residence. There were also issues regarding many heating appliances such as fireplaces, bordering combustible materials. The kitchen was in fairly good condition, as well as most of the bathroom.

When it came to the bathroom and the laundry room, the conditions were generally fair with no visible water leaks and the tiles and taps were reasonably intact. Next we took to the internal and external roof conditions. Upon inspection, we concluded that the roofing support was adequate; the insulation was quite thick, and additional sparking membrane should be added. Defects with the roofing included rust, which could lead to water penetration and loose roof sheets. This will need repairs and damage to the roof flashing will require maintenance.

When looking at the downpipes, gutters and chimney, we detected further issues. This is a concern as it could lead to water damage, as well as possibly attract termites.

After assessing the outside of the house there were many restrictions with respect to walls with too much foliage growth. We did notice that the external baseboard and weatherboard timbers were in contact with soil areas. This could lead to timber deterioration/decay, so we highly recommended that a professional come in to rectify the problem. At this time, we didn’t detect any damage caused by termites. A further inspection is required due to the limited access to certain areas of the house.

To conclude, after all details of the house were evaluated, we noticed a high number of major defects and average number of minor defects. Overall, this house was below average condition in comparison to other homes of a similar age and construction.

This Richmond building and pest inspection report found the property to have a large number of defects, but its not all bad news. If you are looking at buying a house that is in below average condition House Inspections Melbourne can put you in touch with the right tradesmen and professionals to get your dream home up to scratch. Our dedicated team are committed to aiding you in your search for a safe and healthy home! We always recommend doing a pre purchase building inspection before buying a house so there are no nasty surprises down the track. To arrange your inspection call us at 0422228716 or book online today!

May 12 2018

House Inspection Horrors: What you won’t get past our inspectors

House Inspection Horrors

When you are trying to sell a house everyone knows that the better it looks, the higher the price, but you wouldn’t believe some of the house inspection horrors we’ve seen. Often people do a mini renovation before putting their house on the market to try and add value to their home. However, some people have mistaken the definition of renovation for a cover up. Many buyers feel that they do not need to add to the expense of buying a house by booking an inspection. In turn, this has left many new homeowners with some scary surprises. Here are some of the horror patch-up jobs that house inspectors have come across. It certainly will not get past the team at House Inspections Melbourne!

1. Duct tape

Whilst duct tape is the universal fix it for most problems, your house shouldn’t be one of those things. Taping on your tiles is not only a visual eyesore, but it can cause some other pretty serious issues. The internal structure of the house is at risk of wet rot as duct tape is not exactly a waterproof material.

Taping your home’s beams back together is also something we wouldn’t recommend. You don’t want to be risking the structural integrity of your home. It’s also safe to say that any valid house inspector will be able to pick out your quick fix from a mile away!

2. Bad Tiling

These tiles look dreadful, as they have obviously been incorrectly installed. Besides that, the real concern here is that they will not divert water away from the house. Because of the direction of the tiles, rain will run behind them rendering them ineffective. Incorrectly installed tiles can cause wet rot and significant problems to the structure of a home. A house inspection may be able to reveal the extent of damage that this comical looking roof has caused.

3. Subfloor

Looking under the floor is not usually part of the open house, so you have no idea what the owners could be hiding under there. House Inspections Melbourne inspectors have found some pretty nasty things in the subfloor, but this carjack is a little concerning. The owners are using the car jack for structural support, to effectively hold up the house. In this instance it highlights the importance of getting a pre purchase inspection. As this type of defect would not be picked up by a buyer.

Other common subfloor findings include mold growth and flooring decay. This is bad for a number of reasons. Some of which include health issues that stem from being in the presence of mold and the deterioration of your home.

Don’t buy blind. While some of these examples seem obvious now, to the untrained eye and the excited new buyer they might be missed. House inspection horrors can be hidden anywhere, so don’t risk buying a duct taped and patched up home. Get the team at House Inspections Melbourne to take a look at your new home before some of these horrific problems become yours.

May 12 2018

Understanding your pre purchase inspection report

The difference between major and minor defects

An inspection report can save you from walking into a house purchase blind. However not interpreting your report correctly can be just as bad as avoiding an inspection altogether. When seriously considering purchasing a new house a pre purchase inspection should be an essential step in the process. A house inspection is designed so that you as the buyer knows exactly what kind of condition your would-be home is in. A house is one of the biggest investments a person can make, so ensure you know what you’re paying for.

The next step beyond getting an inspection will be to understand the content of your in-depth report. Often a buyer will skip to the final pages and read the overall conclusion of the inspector. The team at House Inspections Melbourne pride themselves on their thorough work and document every defect that they find. So once you have received your inspection report it is important that you recognise what defects are deal breakers, and what might be able to help you negotiate.

What’s in the Inspection Report?

An inspection report’s conclusion on overall condition is compared to the average buildings of approximately the same age and construction. Be mindful of this when looking at your report. If you are looking at buying and old property it is likely that there will be a higher instance of defects than that of a new-build. However, keep in mind that the report will compare other similar properties, so an old home can still gain an above average overall rating. The inverse will also apply; not all new-build homes will score above average ratings, as there can be significant defects found in comparison to other new builds.

When it comes to cracking of the home an inspector can find one of three types of defects: an appearance defect, a serviceability defect, or a structural defect. Whilst uninformed buyers may be concerned with appearance blemishes, these types of defects are generally minor and easily fixed. If your inspection report reveals serviceability or structural problems this should raise a red flag. Serviceability defects are those that impair the buildings function, ie. letting in water, so that its purpose is compromised. A structural defect is going to affect the architecture of the home, where the house could be potentially unsafe.

A good inspection report should also highlight the severity in instances of both minor and major defects. Whilst minor defects are an inconvenience, major defects should be your main concern. These faults will require rectification to avoid unsafe conditions or further deterioration of the property. Make sure you understand the impact that major defects can have on the structure, and liveability of a home.

Major defects to keep an eye our for include:

Timber Pests – termites can cause significant and ongoing structural damage to a property

Black Mold – whilst some homes may have mold in wet areas from incorrect ventilation, black mold found in walls and crawl spaces is a big problem. Poisoning can occur if there is prolonged exposure to black mold, including chronic coughing and sneezing.

Drainage Problems – it is essential that water is effectively diverted away from the house. Stagnant water can occur if the property does not have an efficient drainage system. This type of water pooling can cause structural damage and create an environment conduce of mold and termites. Working gutters and roofing should be considered when evaluating the home, but it is fundamental for the surrounding area to allow runoff.

Bowing of walls or ceiling – it is highly likely that bowing has occurred due to a structural problem, and can cause the house to become unstable.

House Inspections Melbourne recommends that you read their inspection report in its entirety. When considering the information in a report it is crucial to understand that problems are not mutually exclusive. To truly understand the condition of a property you must not take elements out of context. But don’t be put off by poor report findings. You can still purchase a home that is in below average condition. A pre purchase inspection is all about arming you with information. Know what you are buying, be prepared to renovate and negotiate on price once you learn what you are dealing with.

Mar 08 2018

Timber Pest Inspections (Termites)

Chris our termite Inspector also has over many years experience in the timber pest industry. He’s not some builder come pesty. He’s the best in the industry.

Worried about termites? (well you should be) Call the Gurus now 0422 228 716 and you’ll be 100% fully informed on the risks on termite activity to your property.

Why would you risk letting a builder with minimal experience in termite detection look over your new home, when you can have Chris our specialist Timber Pest Inspector. He’s regarded as one of the best timber pest (termite) inspector in the industry. He will inspect and identify all forms of wood decay, termites, and or wood borers. With FREE advice on future safe guarding your property.

Just be Warned – FACT: Insurance companies wont cover you for termite damage. Is it really worth the risk?

For a tiny fraction of the cost of purchasing your new home, you can have peace of mind that you’re buying a house that won’t take thousands of dollars out of your pocket in years to come.

Bundle a building and pest (termite) inspection today and we’ll assure you peace of mind, knowing you have two highly qualified eyes (Geoff and Chris) looking over your new investment.

CALL NOW TO ORDER YOUR INSPECTION – PH: 0422 228 716

This is what we found on recent inspections

Termites Previous owners had left debris and timber stored under their house, providing a fertile breeding ground for termites. Understandably, most home buyers miss these hard-to-access areas. Along with the proximity of trees and fences surrounding the property, termites have an easy time causing a lot of underfloor damage, very quickly. Repair Cost: $50,000+
Decayed Underfloor Unseen leaking pipes create a haven for termites, leading to long-term damage. Rotten joists had created a sagging floor, with the owner forced to replace the underfloor area, floorboards and carpet. Repair Cost: $12,000+
Rotten Internal Walls We discovered decay to internal walls in wood and brick homes alike. Termites need a gap less than 2mm in mortar, ventilation or loose downpipes to reach the internal walls. Understandably, buyers rarely think to inspect these hard-to-access areas on a viewing.

24 month FREE termite management program.

House Inspections Melbourne do not provide termite treatments. But if our inspection uncovers termite activity, we’ll give you a lists of professional firms who conduct termite treatments to safe guard your home.

They not only protect your home, but once they have completed your initial termite treatment, they will add your home to an 24 month Termite Management Program. If termites are detected within 24 month after their initial treatment, they will re-treat your home FREE of charge. This is a benefit we believe cannot be overlooked by our customers.

Please Note: House Inspections Melbourne have no affiliation with any termite management firms and provide their contact details purely to help our customer having troubles with termite infestation. Again, we are fully independent and our best interests are only for our customers. Contact us today for more information.