ESTABLISHED HOME PRE-SALE ACT VENDOR INSPECTIONS:
In Canberra Building Inspections have five parts to the Pre-Sale ACT Vendor Inspection, which is required prior to marketing your property in A.C.T. These are a local ACT legal prerequisite for anyone wishing to list their home for sale in the ACT.
1. A Building Inspection searching for significant defects.
2. A Compliance Report identifying approval numbers and dates of the structures on the property.
3. A Termite (Timber Pest) Inspection Report, for termites.
4. An Energy Efficiency Report stating the energy efficiency star rating of the home.
5. The government Conveyancing File.
Generally most Canberra building inspection services in ACT bundle these four reports into one single report, and send it in a digital PDF file.
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1. The Building Inspection:
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The Building Inspection has two parts.
Vendor/Pre-Sale Inspection AS4349.1
This covers all of the structural issues stated in the Structural Inspection below, as well as checking all appliances, light switches, plumbing, fixtures etc. Your report will include a comprehensive safety checklist, including any significant maintenance issues. Please note that our inspectors are conducting visual inspections and basic testing only, and are not licensed electricians or plumbers. It is still recommended that clients double check fixtures, and appliances themselves at the final handover meeting as a precaution.
Structural Inspection AS4349.1-2007 Appendix A
A Structural Inspection is carried out in accordance with AS4349.1 – 2007 Appendix A. All accessible structural items in the home are visually inspected for significant defects. This includes an inspection of the roof cavity, all internal and external walls, the top of the roof from the gutter line, the condition of the ceilings, wet area waterproof membranes, retaining walls, moisture problems and many other structural issues that commonly occur. A more invasive inspection or damp testing may be recommended based on the findings of our visual inspection.
2. Compliance Report:
This important report is generated after the inspector collects the plans of your home from the ACT government authorities. For the Compliance Report the inspector compares what has been officially allowed to be built on your property, and what is actually there.
3. Termite Inspection Report: AS3000.2-2000
A Pre-Purchase Termite / Timber Pest Inspection is a specialised inspection that is carried out by a licensed timber pest inspector. This is a visual review of the entire home including the roof cavity, to locate the presence of any structurally harmful timber pests or fungi. This inspection is visual only and will not include cutting any manholes or floor traps or lifting roof tiles.
4. Energy Efficiency Report:
The Energy Efficiency Rating Report takes into consideration what the home building materials are made from, the orientation of the home, and so on. This data is then used in a computer model to generate an energy efficiency rating. It is compiled by a licensed operator.
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5. Conveyancing Files:
The Conveyancing Files are applied for and provided by ACTPLA upon payment of a fee. They are used to help the Compliance Report by Canberra Inspections to show the owner what was approved by the government to be on the site.
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS:
This includes the Pre-Purchase Inspection and the Structural Inspection as below.
The pre-purchase inspection by itself is usually requested under the following circumstances:
1. The purchaser is buying the home in New South Wales, which does not have legislation requiring the Vendor Inspection Reports as above. In this case, the purchaser wants to ensure his purchase is safe, by engaging the building inspector directly.
2. The purchaser is buying a unit, and not a house. Units are not covered by the above vendor legislation.
3. The purchaser in ACT wants their own independent inspection.
To get the best value out of your building inspection a Pre-Purchase inspection is ideal.
Structural Inspection AS4349.1-2007 Appendix A
A Structural Inspection is carried out in accordance with AS4349.1 – 2007 Appendix A. All accessible structural items in the home are visually inspected for significant defects. This includes an inspection of the roof cavity, all internal and external walls, the top of the roof from the gutter line, the ceilings, wet area waterproofing, retaining walls, moisture problems, and many other structural issues that commonly occur. A more invasive inspection or damp testing may be recommended based on the findings of our visual inspection.
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
In building a new home, you may wish to have an inspection for the various stages of construction. When you pay your builder, you do so that the next building stage is ready to proceed. In ACT, your builder has to get his work certified by accredited certifiers. This inspection can be used in nearby New South Wales. Mostly this inspection is used in ACT where the last two construction inspections are not part of the work of certifiers. Have a look at our flyer.
Plate Height Inspection
A Plate Height Inspection from Canberra Inspections is conducted shortly after the walls and wall frames are built. This is designed to highlight any serious errors or defects, thereby allowing the builder to remedy them. Problems arising from cracked walls, crooked window frames, bent lintels, twisted door frames, out of square bathroom walls and many more common potential errors are easier to fix early.
Practical Completion Inspection Report
At Canberra Inspections, a Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) Report will save you stress and hardship with a detailed list of work that requires correction or completion under your contract. Builders will often only fix the items that you bring to their attention and without a building inspector to assist you, this can lead to major problems. Issues such as crooked plastering around windows, cracks in ceilings and cornices, rough plaster, poor painting of doors and other surfaces, affect the presentation of your home and lower its resale value.
A Practical Completion Inspection Report will help you to gain peace of mind and take control of your handover process. This essential inspection is highly recommended to anyone building a new home.
Pre-Handover Inspection
This is a return inspection after the items on the PCI above have been addressed by the builder. During this inspection these items and any additional construction damage that has occurred since the PCI will be included on your report. In some instances, several Final Handover Inspections are required to ensure that a home is properly finished off, where builders have insufficiently addressed the PCI items.
Special Purpose Inspection/Dispute Resolution
This specialised inspection is required when disagreements are occurring between client and builder and a qualified independent opinion is required to resolve the situation. This report may contain photos and can be used as evidence where complaints are to be taken to a Building Dispute Tribunal.
In many cases, the result of this inspection is an agreement between builder and client with the outcome of the meeting being formally documented in the report.
Construction Package (discounted)
The Construction Package contains a Plate Height Inspection, a Practical Completion Inspection, and a Pre-Handover Inspection. This package is ideal to help prevent the types of major problems that can occur through poor supervision, high turnover of staff and apprentice trades. The Plate Height Inspection not only shows quality and structural issues, but also lets your builder know that an inspector is going to be involved throughout the project. Customers who book a Canberra Building Inspections package usually have a smooth handover as builders generally know to present the home at the highest possible standard.
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