Knowing all there is to know about the condition of a prospective home ahead of putting in a bid to buy helps avoid later problems and high costs which might be associated with said problems. In most cases, the easiest way of achieving this is to book the services of a qualified property inspector. An experienced inspector will spend a significant amount of time checking the exterior and interior of a property, which might include the roofing, flooring, fences, and outbuildings. Don’t be tempted to avoid this crucial step in purchasing a home as it can give peace of mind on the state of a property.

A first step to arranging a property inspection is to find the right person to complete the work. A property needs to be inspected by a suitably qualified person, which might include a licensed surveyor, architect or builder. Finding a building inspector is often a case of searching online, in the yellow pages, or taking a personal recommendation for a friend of colleague. Make sure the inspector being employed already has practical experience in the construction industry, has the right trade qualifications and also holds the necessary professional indemnity insurance.

These qualified professionals are fully aware of what needs to be inspected, and able to see through most cosmetic repairs or improvements which might have been done to cover up old faults, which without the help of a building inspector might be missed. Unseen or unknown problems have the potential to eat up a sizable part of a budget, which might have been put aside for other work.

The format and type of report completed can vary dependent on the style of property, its age and size, and general condition. Individual inspectors can also differ in the way the reports are prepared. Each of these factors has an influence on the overall cost. Some of the inspectors provide reports which as based on a standard checklist format while others might prefer a written report which is more tailored to the individual property.

In general a standard inspection report is more of a visual overview of a property rather than a report which is able to identify structural problems or similar concealed problems. If looking for a more in-depth report or just a further report to inspect a specific area it might be necessary to have a further assessment carried out. Other personnel available to inspect a property include the structural engineer, pest inspector, electricity or water supply authorities, and geotechnical engineer.

Overall, the building inspection shouldn’t be looked at as a complete report capable of detailing every last aspect of a home. Instead the report should be seen as a realistic attempt to find any significant problems which are detectable from a visible point of view at the time of carrying out the inspection.