So, you’ve found your dream home, the one that ticks all the boxes, the one you can’t stop thinking about. But before you rush ahead and start planning your life in your new home, there’s one more crucial thing you need to do - order a building inspection!
You might be tempted to skip the building inspection, but there’s no point in loving the home if the foundations are rotting and they’ll cost you tens of thousands of dollars to remediate. If there’s any major issues with the home, it’s better to find out now, rather than after you buy it.
Building inspections focus on the integrity of the structure. So, it’s always a good idea to seek an assessment for electrical wiring, roofing and pest inspections as well.
Here are some additional reasons to order building inspections.
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Safety – Getting a building inspection is not just about financial security. A property in poor repair can also be a health risk. Mould on walls from rising damp is detrimental to air quality and bad wiring can be a fire risk.
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A way out – An inspection can allow you to back out of a sale if it finds significant problems with the property.
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Re-negotiate – If the inspection reveals major issues, you don’t have to pull out of the sale, but you can use it as an opportunity to re-negotiate your terms and price.
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Illegal extensions – It’s important to know if the current owners have made any amendments to the home without DA approval. This is extremely common in garage and basement conversions. Don’t pay for anything that shouldn’t exist, or you’ll inherit the problem.
You won’t regret getting a building inspection, but you might regret it if you don’t get one - it really is a small price to pay for peace of mind!
