The Importance of Pest Inspection for Home Buyers

  • By Design Team
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  • 28 Jul, 2015
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Termites can be a matter of serious concern for home buyers who should insist of pest inspection over and above the pre-purchase building inspection that has become an essential part of the process of home buying. As a buyer, make sure that the purchase contract that you have with the seller includes the clause of all kinds of inspections that should be carried out to ascertain the physical condition of the property as well as the status of pests that can pose serious living problems once you move in. With all the good intentions of home buying, you should insist for an exit clause in the contract in the event any of the inspection reports turn out to be unsatisfactory.

Why is it required?

Purchasing a home is a very important activity of your life that involves a big sum of money. Therefore, protection of your investment and getting the right property that is free from any kind of legal, commercial and constructional problems are the reasons why you would like to be  assured by a third party like the building inspector to apprise you about the unseen and unheard facts about the building with respect to its quality and environmental impact. You want to be sure that the damaging pests do not pose any problems for you.

The scope of pest inspection

Wood-destroying pests like termites that can cause considerable damage to the wooden elements of the structure of a building are usually the reason for conducting a pest inspection. It is not termites alone but wood infesting beetles and rot fungus are the other pests that the inspector looks for. The exterior of the property and the indoor accessible areas including the attic, if the place does not have subfloor crawlspaces and is known to have a history of dry wood termite , are checked visually to ascertain any impact that the pests that could have created from their  past activity. The inspector depends on evidences in the form of termite tubes, damaged wood and dead insects. Plumbing leaks and standing water as well as wood coming in contact with the earth are considered favorable conditions for pests to thrive.

The profile of the inspector

The pest inspections can be done by licensed and or qualified building inspectors or a person of similar capacity belonging to a pest control company. The process of selection can begin with obtaining referrals from friends and real estate contacts, searching the trade directories and yellow pages, obtaining quotes, comparing and then finalizing the deal. Make a request for an experienced inspector with the company you engage because it is a visual inspection where experience counts a lot.

Validity of report

The inspection report is generally valid for two years and the company that undertakes the job is accountable to the buyer and the seller alike, regardless of the fact that the buyer might have appointed them. The report constitutes of two parts – one part relates to the conditions that causing damage to the property and the other part relates to possible damage that might be caused in the future if not corrected.

It is worth making use of the services of pest inspectors when buying a property so that you do not have to regret of making a wrong purchase.

Termites in Adelaide 

By Design Team • December 3, 2015
Termites in AdelaideBuilding owners in the Adelaide CBD may wonder if their property is at risk of termite attack. The simple answer is yes. The photos below show termite damage found in the roof void of a 2 storey building in Waymouth Street Adelaide. Call now for an inspection 0417970164.    

A Checklist for New House Inspection

By Design Team • July 28, 2015

The   building inspector   knows best what to look for in a new house so that unseen flaws are highlighted and these can be set right before you move to your new home. The inspector is trained to assess the condition of the building by visual inspection and has the expertise and experience to hit upon the relevant areas and utility systems that could be vulnerable to defects.

But not limiting your inspections to the competence of the building inspector only, you can have a walk-through inspection of your new home. The cosmetic flaws and functional issues are brought to the fore during a walkthrough of the new house that has to be pointed out to the builder for correction. These are usually not within the scope of the building inspector. The following items when included in the checklist for inspection can make it almost foolproof.

  • Plumbing   – Every faucet has to be turned on and off to see that it is easy to operate and works effectively. Check for leaks and drips by running the fixtures for at least five minutes by keeping an eye on the fixture bases and various joints.
  • Electrical-   Switch on and off every light fixture to test how it works and check that the fixtures have been installed correctly without causing any damage to it. Check the functionality of the door bell and for electrical outlets plug in a device like radio to see if it works.
  • Heating and cooling   – Turn on the air conditioner and check that it emits cool air from the grills continually and uniformly. Set the cooling temperature to about five degrees below the room temperature and see if the system switches off on its own. Do a similar testing for the heating system with an additional check of the convectors and radiators for overheating from outside.
  • Walls, ceilings and floors   – The colour scheme should be as desired and the level of smoothness should be satisfying. Check for moldings on ceilings and floors that should be free from nail heads and any gaps. If there are gaps it has to be filled by caulking. The tiles on the floors and walls should be free from cracks and chippings and there should not be any missing grouts. If the floor is of linoleum, hardwood or tile, make sure that there are no scuff marks.
  • Kitchen   – Cabinets and counter tops have to be checked for scratches and abrasions and insist for smooth finish. Check that all appliances are functioning and check the hardware and hinges of the cabinet by opening it. Check the smoothness of drawers.
  • Bath   – The toilet, sink, shower and bathtub has to be checked for cracks and chips. The toilet should flush effectively and be securely placed and leak in the bat6h tub has to be checked by filling it up to a certain height after closing the sink stopper.

The basement and attic, porches and decks, doors, windows, the garage door and the exterior are all checked with the help of similar checklists that are relevant to those areas.

Know the Cost of Inspection and Include It in Your Purchase Budget

By Design Team • July 28, 2015

When you find a property that matches your expectations, you might not want to wait any further and go ahead with the purchase. But in the excitement of purchasing your dream property, you should not miss out on conducting a   pre-purchase building inspection. The inspection will give you complete peace of mind that you have made the right choice and it is a safe investment for you. The inspection report will give you valuable insight into the defects of the building and how good is the construction to combat the environmental issues of the place.

The Basics about Pre-purchase Building Inspections

By Design Team • July 28, 2015
Looks can be deceiving. So, when you are buying a property like a building you should not take it by face value. Instead, you have to probe about the quality of the building so that you know what you are paying for and you get the right value for money. Usually, there are two types of checks that are carried out when purchasing a home. The legal aspect is thoroughly checked by undertaking document searches like title searches, tax searches etc in order to ascertain that the title is clear and free from any encumbrances. The other most important check is the pre-purchase building inspection. Only when you are satisfied with the results of searches and inspections you can proceed to buy the home.

5 Benefits That You Derive From The Services Of a Building Inspector

By Design Team • July 27, 2015
Pre-purchase inspections   are usually related to home buyers who derive the major benefits, but the sellers too get their share of benefit. This is the reason why a seller might be interested to hire the services of a building inspector. When a property is listed for selling, the seller would like to have it disposed off as soon as possible so that he can recover the cost quickly. If the listing is backed by an inspection report then the buyers get enough confidence to push the deal through very quickly as the health of the property becomes transparently visible through the report. The inspector’s report is mutually beneficial for sellers and buyers in various ways.