Importance of Building Inspection Before Property Purchase
by Abdul Aziz Mondal Real Estate Published on: 01 November 2017 Last Updated on: 25 September 2024
If you intend to buy a particular real estate property in South Australia, it is always prudent to get as much information as you can on the current condition of the building. You need to know first-hand whether the property you are going to purchase is structurally sound and there are no safety issues. This is why it is necessary to conduct a pre-purchase building inspection of the house you are going to buy. The other important reasons why you need to conduct such an inspection are as follows:
Structural issues
You always need to be aware that all residential homes have to meet the stringent requirements that the local authorities lay down in Building Codes and Standards of Australia. If the house you buy does not meet those guidelines, you need to take the necessary measures to rectify it as the owner. Otherwise, the regulatory authorities can hold you liable for negligence. The situation gets even worse when one of the family members in the building gets hurt. Conducting a thorough pre-purchase building inspection can go a long way in helping you avoid such problems.
The additional cost you need to incur for fixing problems
You may feel that the residential property you are going to buy is relatively cheap in comparison to the price of other similar buildings in the area. However, you may be unaware of the hidden costs you need to incur when it comes to carrying out repairs. The comprehensive pre-purchase building inspections in SA that skilled experts in this field conduct can quickly identify such issues to you. Such a professional can also give you an estimate of the additional costs you need to incur to rectify such structural problems. If such expenses and the purchase price of the property go beyond your budget, you may feel that the property is not worth buying.
Electrical wiring and the installation of smoke alarms
Smoke alarms go a long way in saving the lives of the inhabitants of a building in the event of a fire. A pre-purchase building inspection can highlight the number of smoke alarms the property you are going to purchase has and whether it is adequate. Such an inspection can also determine the condition of the electrical wiring in the building.
Identify safety issues
When you purchase a residential property for your family, you need to do more than just look at the house from the outside. A pre-purchase building inspector can bring to the notice issues that you may not be aware of. These include dangerous cracks in the walls, leaking water pipes, unsafe patios, poor drainage, falling asbestos, fences, and issues with the sub-floors. Moreover, it is important to assess indoor air quality because it is directly linked to your family’s well-being. There is a possibility that Radon gas may be present in the house, and since it is odorless and colorless, identification without inspection is impossible. Inspectors employ continuous radon monitors for accurate evaluations. Being aware of such issues can go a long way in ensuring the safety of your family members when they enter the house.
Spending money on conducting a pre-purchase building inspection of the property to intend to can go a long way in ensuring it is safe to live in. Moreover, the report of the professional conducting it can highlight the extra costs you need to incur on repairs. It also certifies whether the structural condition of the building meets the statutory requirements that the regulatory authorities lay down.