Most people trying to buy a house understand the importance of having a building and pest inspection conducted, but question whether an apartment inspection is necessary.
It’s worth keeping in mind that seven out of ten newly constructed buildings will have some flaws, so even if your chosen complex is brand new, it’s a smart move to organise an apartment building inspection.
A Generalised Building Inspection
It would be foolish to purchase a property without first having a professional building and pest inspection performed. You should know the general condition of a home or apartment before you buy or rent it, after all.
A building inspector is trained to recognise dangerous conditions in a dwelling and can see past superficial fixes. The final report will typically detail any problems found with the property and provide an opinion on whether or not those problems are fixable. If they aren’t beyond economical repair, the inspection report will detail the necessary steps.
In addition, the report on the building and pest inspection will include any alterations made without proper permits which could pose a safety risk to the occupants.
What’s Covered by an Apartment Building Inspection?
Remember that the scope of the inspector’s report is limited to the apartment’s interior and the regions included in the sale (i.e. car parking space).
This means that the hallways, building and elevator lobbies will not be covered. The body corporate is responsible for these tasks; the term “strata title” is used to describe this arrangement.
Your building and pest inspector will inspect the apartment for signs of wear and tear, such as water damage and leaks. Poor quality materials, dated or inefficient design and shoddy construction are the usual culprits behind these two costly issues. Even while leaks don’t appear to be a big deal on paper, fixing them will cause you a lot of stress and cost you a lot of money.
A poorly built balcony can also lead to leaks if the drainage point becomes clogged, the sealant fails, or a tile cracks. Don’t forget that your apartment’s dampness problems stem not just from the inside, with rising damp or leaks, but also from the outside, from rain and storms.
Water damage is not just an inconvenience but also a potential threat to your well-being. After moving in, the presence of mould caused by water leaks is a major health risk. If water were to seep into the electrical connections, it would pose another potential threat to the public’s well-being. It can be quite costly to replace the galvanised water pipes in solid walls of older homes with copper or poly pipes because of the inevitable rusting that will occur.
A building and pest inspector will also look out for the possibility of timber pests ie termites. The thing is, if there are termites in the apartment you intend to buy, you will be responsible for fixing the problem. Doing a thorough termite examination is essential if you want to avoid spending a fortune exterminating these wood-eating parasites.
Apartment Inspection Experts
Overall, apartments should most definitely undergo building and pest inspections prior to purchase – and ideally, before being rented out to tenants. By doing so, landlords can ensure that their units are up to code and free of any pests or other infestations. This benefits not only the tenant but also the landlord in the long run.
Glenn and the team at Trimax Building Inspections have a wealth of experience in the area of apartment inspection in Brisbane, particularly in southside suburbs with lots of unit blocks – like South Brisbane, West End, Kangaroo Point and Coorparoo; Cleveland and Capalaba in the Redlands; and Springwood or Browns Plains in Logan.
Whether you’re buying an apartment or even getting ready to sell your property, we’ll provide you with a professional building and pest inspection report, all delivered in an easy-to-understand format. Contact us today to book your apartment inspection!