How long do building inspections take to do?

Naturally, this will depend on the size of the building being inspected but, for a conventional three-bed home, the inspection will take between 1.5 and 2 hours. This will allow the inspector time to examine the entire property, both inside and out, to identify any existing building issues.

Do I need to get a lawyer to word my 'subject to building inspection' clause before I sign it?

Probably not, as most real estate agents have sales contracts which already have all the standard relevant ‘subject to...’ clauses worded correctly. However, if you have had a building inspection done before you’ve signed your sale contract and that inspection has revealed issues which you wish to have rectified before signing the final sale contract, you should seek legal advice on the wording of the document you sign and exchange with the vendors.

What should I do if I'm unhappy with the quality of the building inspection report I receive?

Firstly, you should contact the inspector you appointed to carry out the building inspection and try to resolve your complaint directly. If this is not successful, you may want to contact the company that employs the inspector. In Australia, the building inspection industry is largely unregulated and no formal qualifications are required to advertise your services as a building inspector (except in Queensland). Before you employ an inspector, you should check the person you employ is a qualified builder, engineer or structural engineer, or has similar appropriate qualifications.

Will a building inspector look for any termite problems in the building?

Unless you pay for a combined pest and building inspection, a building inspector will not specifically look for signs of a termite infestation (although should mention the fact if obvious signs of termite activity are found). If you want to make sure the building you wish to buy does not have a termite problem, you should pay for a specific pest inspection to be done, as this requires specialist equipment to listen for termite activity inside walls and cavities. In this case, your sales contract clause would be ‘subject to a pest and building inspection.’

My building inspection found rising damp in an outside wall. Should I cancel the purchase of the house?

If your building inspection has revealed a building issue that you weren’t previously aware of, you’ll need to thoroughly investigate the problem before deciding if it’s serious enough to invoke the ‘subject to...’ clause and decide to withdraw from the purchase. You should speak to the building inspector and, if necessary, ask for a second, more detailed inspection to be carried out to find out the extent and cause of the rising damp and to determine if it can be easily rectified. You may decide to proceed with the purchase regardless of whether the property you’re purchasing otherwise meets your standards.