When we purchase a property we may make modifications to fit our family and lifestyle. Sometimes they are simply changing the décor by painting, or new window furnishings. At other times they are major renovations to make the flow of the house work for the way you live. Regardless of the age of the home, it’s often difficult to tell on the surface if there have been modifications made to the original building. Some will engage a builder for advice, or have a structural engineer examine the plans, but in the interests of saving money, the owner may tackle the job himself even if he doesn’t have any experience.
I see some concerning situations during my inspections, and some downright dangerous renovations. Last week was one where I uncovered some pretty serious defects, where the sellers for each of the properties explained to me what I commonly hear from time to time; “I don’t understand, I had a building inspection completed when I bought the place, and haven’t made any changes”. All I can put this down to is that maybe the inspector was not qualified, was very inexperienced and/or didn’t inspect the roof void thoroughly enough. That is why Home Integrity building inspections are carried out by an experienced registered builder. With Pre-Purchase building inspections it’s really important to inspect all safe accessible areas, no matter how dirty or uncomfortable it may be.
In Western Australia, there are no licensing requirements for building inspectors. If someone is presenting themselves as “licensed” you should be cautious. Check the qualification of the person actually conducting the inspection. Builders in Western Australia are registered with the Building Commission and will also have a Builders Registration Number. Don’t be confused by some of the “licensed” building inspectors around. The “license” may just refer to the ability to operate in a specific location.
Home Integrity are experienced and registered builders with the Building Commission WA. During a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection Home Integrity use a systematic methodology which ensures any inspection is thorough and complete. During a Pre-Purchase Building inspection Home Integrity will report on all Major and Structural Defects. Full colour photos are always included in the report. Home Integrity will identify where the defect is located, the type of defect, why it is classed as a defect, and most importantly, what needs to be done to fix the defect.
