Whether you’re a buyer or a seller of a property, a building and pest inspection is a necessary pre-purchase/pre-sale step that you should not skip. But should you opt for a combined building and pest inspection over the customary separate inspections?
Why should you spend the extra money on a building and pest inspection?
Knowing the condition of the property you are buying or selling, inside and out, will put you in a better position to negotiate/offer a fair price.
As a buyer, you will also be better prepared for necessary post-sale repair costs and you will also be informed of possible safety hazards and future risks, if any. You can request for certain fixes or restorations to be shouldered by the seller, if the inspection reveals defects to the property.
As a seller, learning about any structural problems and/or pest infestations will give you the opportunity to resolve said issues before putting the property on the market. A properly-maintained property will fetch a higher price than a poorly-maintained one.
The extra money you’ll spend on a building and pest inspection will be a worthwhile investment in the long run, as it will save you more on unexpected and higher costs for fixes that will have gotten worse if they’re not detected as early as possible.
Why get a combined building and pest inspection?
Because a combined building and pest inspection will give you a more complete assessment of the property which, in turn, will you give you better risk protection. You can, of course, get separate inspections; but a combined inspection from a reputable company will cost you less while delivering the same, thorough results as two, separate ones.
It does not matter how well-constructed a property is; wear and tear, exposure to the elements, and time will cause structural defects that will require fixing. The earlier these problems are found and evaluated, the easier and less costly they will be to repair. Finding vulnerabilities in certain areas of the property will also enable you to take preventative measures to avoid future problems altogether. A building inspection report will describe in full detail all of your property’s problem areas.
Geographic location and/or the weather/season can also make any structure susceptible to pests. Likewise, certain construction materials – wood, in particular – are vulnerable to specific kinds of pests. A pest inspection report will inform you if you have a pest problem or what measures you can take to prevent an infestation.
A reputable inspection company that offers a combined building and pest inspection will either have different inspectors for each task – with both having all the necessary qualifications and accreditations; or an inspector who is qualified and certified to perform both types of inspection. All inspectors should also have professional indemnity and public liability insurance policies relevant to both kinds of inspection.
When buying or selling a property, getting a combined building and pest inspection is one of the best ways to protect your investment and guarantee the value of your property. You will also be protecting yourself from unexpected and costly risks. Do your due diligence and get a combined building and pest inspection.