How long does a building and pest inspection take

At ABIS we have developed an approach to conducting inspections that is both very thorough and but also efficient. The combination of well-trained inspectors with many years of experience, coupled with a unique computer aided inspection system, means that the average onsite time is around an hour and a half. Authough typicall and hour and a […]

Building inspections are an important part of the process of purchasing, building or selling a house to give you or the buyer of your property information about the property so that the transaction can proceed with confidence. Chose an inspection company that is well established and has experienced, qualified and insured inspectors. Building Inspections identify any hidden surprises […]

Typically, the purchaser will pay for a building and pest inspection when buying a new or existing home. It is also becoming increasing popular for those about to sell their homes to have a building and pest inspection undertaken and to make that inspection available to any prospective purchaser. This is a useful aid to […]

Typically between $300 and $600 depending on the size and type of home. Our combined Building and Pest Inspections with thermal imaging start from $299 for a small 1 bed unit. For example, the price for a 3 bed home one bathroom home would be around $475. We hope fees are not your sole consideration. […]

There are 6 Building Stage Inspections in total including the Handover or Practical Completion Inspection being the culmination of the build process and a Warranty Inspection at the end of the first year. We urge you to consider undertaking these inspections to ensure that your property is constructed to a high standard. Our Inspector conducts a detailed examination […]

Understandably, if you’re the vendor you are keen to present your home in its best possible light so it sells for its best price quickly. Because nasty surprises are what scare buyers, transparency is the best policy. It’s better to have a thorough understanding of all your property’s faults right up front so you can […]

The Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011 deals only with dividing fences and trees. It does not deal with retaining walls, except in very limited circumstances. The Act does however state that a fence is not a retaining wall. This is because retaining walls serve a different purpose than fences. They are engineered […]

It is preferable to set expectations regarding inspections and site access with the builder up front. If possible, have the right to conduct inspections at each stage included in your build contract. Because the work site and the safety of all those on it remains the responsibility of the primary building contractor until final payment, any independent […]

Yes, you are most welcome to be at the inspection. However, years of experience have taught us that the best time to communicate with you is after you have read your report. This makes sure that all the relevant information is communicated to you fully before you make any decisions in relation to the property.Your […]

The level of detail in our documentation will depend upon the type of inspection. For example, if our Inspector is conducting a Building and Pest Inspection on an older property, he may not note the chipped bricks unless they contribute to a structural defect, or conditions conducive to structural defects. As our Inspector must judge […]

When our Inspectors find active termites they endeavour to identify the species of termite as differing species behave differently. They also endeavour to source the entry points to the house and document the extent and severity of damage to the property without disturbing the termites. Our Inspector will also document evidence of previous termite management. […]

In compliance with Australian Standards and best practice, our reports will clearly spell out which areas of a house were not visible because they were either not accessible, or partially or completely obstructed and for what reason, so you can choose to make further special investigation of these areas should you be concerned. As you […]

This is probably the one area in life for which there is no “pass” or “fail”. A professional Pest and Building Inspection is an examination of the property’s current condition, conducted according to Australian Standards. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value, nor a council inspection, which verifies compliance to local government legislation. Our […]

There are many things to consider when buying a property. For example, how busy is the road, the type of neighbourhood, proximity to schools, hospitals, shopping, community facilities, and public  transport to name a few. You also need to consider what is potentially in your neighbouring yards. As a Building and Pest inspection does not […]

When you have a new home built or when you buy a new home from a builder or developer, the warranty against major structural defects applies for 6 years. However, for less significant non-structural defects the builder is only responsible for rectifying issues for 12 months after Practical Completion. Because of this, we recommend that […]

During the Handover Inspection we conduct a very comprehensive inspection detailing any untradesmanlike work, inappropriate materials, incomplete work, omissions, non-structural defects, and structural issues. We also complete a Timber Pest Inspection on your new property. This may seem unnecessary, but it is not uncommon for the termite management system to be compromised during the building […]

When buying off a plan it is always wise to make your contract conditional upon a Building and Pest Inspection by an independent licensed professional. Being a newly constructed property, we conduct a Handover Inspection to ensure that the Builder has completed all work to an recognised, satisfactory standard, itemising any untradesmanlike work, inappropriate materials, […]

This is a commonly asked question. We recommend getting an inspection at each Stage of your home’s construction. These are broken up into 6 Stages in total consisting of 4 Building Stage Inspections culminating in Handover at Practical Completion and followed up 12 months later by a Warranty Inspection. You can choose the entire package or […]

You are always welcome to be at the inspection. However, experience has taught us that the best way to communicate with our clients is after they have read their written report. This makes sure that all the relevant information is communicated to you fully before you make any decisions in relation to the property. Please […]

We at ABIS inspect as much of the roof space or void as we safely can. We are of course guided by Workplace Health & Safety laws and good practice and consequently there will therefore be a number of situations when your inspector will not be ably to safely get into the roof space.

Typically between $300 and $600 depending on the size and type of home. Our combined Building and Pest Inspections with thermal imaging start from $299 for a small 1 bed unit. For example, the price for a 3 bed home one bathroom home would be around $475. We hope fees are not your sole consideration. […]

You should take professional advice from a number of experienced and fully licensed builders. Ensure that your works are properly specified with detailed written quotes by reputable, licensed, and insured professionals who come with references. If you are doing the works because of a building inspection report you’ve had – ensure that you get a […]

If you have any reason to be uncertain about what a Pre-Purchase Inspection might reveal about the state of repair of your property because of its past history or age then don’t hesitate in organising your Pre-Sale Inspection prior to listing… better to be forewarned and forearmed than unpleasantly surprised.

The truth is buyers place a very high value on knowing that a reputable, licensed, and insured professional has inspected your property. Pre-Purchase Inspections conducted after your contract has been signed may result in considerable discounting or even worse, your sale might collapse. Providing a Pre-Sale Inspection Report right up front at listing gives your […]

An ABIS Pre-Sale Inspection documents your property’s condition and identifies problems that may need to be rectified or addressed prior to listing. It can be assist in selling your house and gives full disclosure to any prospective buyer. It is particularly useful if sell at auction.

Most infestations in buildings occur via the ground from nests in the ground,  trees, stumps and landscape materials, but if moisture is continuously present, soil contact is not essential.

Often the chemical doesn’t penetrate the heartwood, so the timber centre can be susceptible to termites which may be exacerbated by timber splitting or weathering.

Yes, there are over 400 species of termite in Australia and less than 10 species do significant damage to homes. This is why it’s essential to have an accurate identification of any species found so that control options can be carefully chosen according to the particular termite species. In Queensland the are usually termite present in […]

Any physical barrier can be bridged or breached by electrical and plumbing services, additions, modifications, renovations, and landscaping. Their primary function is to force termite activity to become visible to inspection. Regular inspections by a specialised timber pest consultant continue to be essential.

No – these treatments simply give a false sense of security. Termites die when incontact with the air except in very warm and humid conditions. a surface spray will rarely make contact with the termites as they move around in their shelter tubes or inside timber or other structures.

Chemical barriers can be bridged or breached at any time by any number of factors including servicing of property facilities, landscaping, additions, modifications, rodents, soil leaching and tree roots. The chemical itself also degenerates. Generally, barriers should be re-applied about every 5 years and regular annual inspections by a specialised timber pest consultant are essential.

Termites require a higher humidity in their workings than their surroundings. Moisture meters detect this, but leaks from plumbing, water systems, air conditioning equipment and guttering may also be detected and therefore any high reading should be investigated further. Damage and working made by termites, where the termites have abandoned the area, will be dry […]

We inspect as much of the roof as we safely can. However, as you can appreciate, we must be guided by Workplace Health & Safety laws, good practice and we all want the inspector to return safely to his family at the end of the day. So there may be situations where your inspector will […]

Our qualified building inspectors have years of building and renovation experience behind them. However, they must remain completely independent and NOT QUOTE on renovation work. Their focus is solely on your building inspection. The cost of repair or renovation can vary greatly depending on taste, materials used, design, method, economic climate, and the firm undertaking […]

No property is perfect. If your inspector identifies defects, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the property, only that you will know in advance what to expect. Using the information contained in your report establish the likely cost of fixing the defects identified so you an make an informed decision.

Others will tell you that it is important to have different inspectors. Actually providing the inspector has the necessary dual qualifications, licences and experience, you’ll get a higher quality inspection if the same individual conducts both inspections.

Your inspection is a record of observable conditions at a particular point in time and not a guarantee, warranty or insurance policy. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a property.

No. Your Building Inspectors’ job is to inspect and report on the presence or otherwise of defects in the property. No spin or bias is applied to this process for any party. This enables our clients to rely on the independence of information to make informed decisions. Some clients will be happy to take on defects and […]

No. A professional inspection is an examination of the property’s current condition. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value, nor a council inspection, which verifies compliance to local government legislation. Your inspector will not pass or fail a property, but describe its physical condition and indicate what may need repair or replacement.

A new construction is not a problems-free guarantee. While many new homes are well built, we regularly find serious defects. You can choose to have your new home checked at key building stages throughout the building process including Frame, Lock-Up/Waterproofing, and Fixing/Pre-Painting. A Building Handover Inspection is essential for identifying items for rectification before you […]

Definitely!  Now you are well armed with all the information you need to make your property decision with confidence. Even when we are conducting Building and Pest Inspections on new houses or units we often find issues that are not obvious to the purchaser. That is why handover inspections are conducted on new homes. Have a report with […]

Providing your lender is happy for you to do your own then yes. Most buyers however, even when they have the required building and timber pest knowledge, find it difficult to remain completely objective and this may lead to poor judgment. It’s always advisable to obtain an impartial third-party opinion by an independent expert.