Frequesntly Asked Questions

Q. Why is it important to get an inspection report done before you buy a property?
A. There are THREE good reasons why you should get a building inspection report done before you buy a property:

Q. Do you have insurance?
Yes - we carry full indemnity and liability insurance.

Q. Do I need to have a Timber Pest Inspection if the house is on a concrete slab?
A. Yes. Even if the house is on a concrete slab you should have a Termite Inspection. Termites only require a gap of 1.6mm in the slab, around pipe penetrations through the slab (pipes for water, sewer, power etc) or if there have been two different concrete pours in the construction of the dwelling, they will be able to get to the structural timbers.

Also you are at a higher risk on a concrete slab as sub floor inspections are not possible due to the concrete being on the ground.

Q. The house I am thinking of buying has had a Termite Treatment, do I still require a Termite Inspection?
A. Yes. Our inspectors will be able to inform you of the chemical that was used and rate applied to see if it is still working or has expired. Some chemicals only last 1-3 years and some up to 10 years.

Also, our inspectors will be able to inform you if the treatment is to Australian Standards 3660 and if the treatment to the building was a preventative treatment or eradication treatment as there was a termite problem with structural damage. You can not always trust the vendor as they want to sell the property.

Q. I have a friend that is a Builder, is it a good idea to use a friend for the building inspection?
A. No. Your friend may know a lot in regards to construction of a building and be able to do the inspection cheaper, but they will not have the Insurance required to perform such an inspection.

If a problem does arise in the future to the property that he has missed, then it will be your friendship that will suffer the most.

Also our inspectors have performed thousands of inspections and have the equipment and reporting software to document all defects minor or major for your record.

Q. I am only concerned with termites and the house is not that old, why should I get a Timber Pest Inspection and Building Inspection together?
A. If there was Termite damage or evidence found to the house, you would need a Builder to ascertain the damage to structural timbers to determine if the house is structurally sound and what was required to be fixed with cost of repairs.

Also you would be surprised with the poor workmanship that we have detected from a Building Inspection with homes that are not very old and even new homes.

Q. Can I be at the inspection and talk to the inspectors on the day?
A. Yes. There is no problem with attending the inspection and we encourage it. After the inspectors have gathered all the information for the report you are able to talk to them about issues they have found, or you may have some questions regarding removing walls etc.

It is advised to inform the office when you are booking an inspection that you are going to attend so enough time is allocated.

Q. Why not get a Building Inspection first to see if the house is structurally sound and if the Inspector comes across termite activity then get a Timber Pest Inspection?
A. There are two answers to this question, first the Builder is not qualified and experience for Termites and Inspections of Termites so he could miss activity due to his inexperience as termites are very hard to find.

Secondly, by having both inspectors at the same time you will save 20%! If a Pest Inspector goes out to the property later due to activity the Building Inspector found and is not sure what it is, then the total cost would be $120-$150 more than getting both together.

Also the building inspectors don't carry with them the latest equipment used for detecting live termites.

Q. What is the extent of the Buy Wise Inspections Insurance policy and what does it cover?
A. All Inspection companies and business must have the appropriate insurance in place at the time of the inspection as to Australian Standards.

If it is found that during the inspection a Structural Defect or Major Defect was missed by our Inspector from a visual inspection, then it is up to Buy Wise Inspections or our insurance company to compensate you for the repairs.

We offer QUICK service to meet your pre purchase building inspection needs.

Our inspection reports are thorough, detailed and easy to understand.

Contact Active Property Inspections today and we will provide you with the PROFESSIONAL service you deserve from our Building and Timber Pest Inspectors.

Detailed and easy to understand Pre - Purchase Building and Timber Pest Reports delivered FAST!

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