A pre-purchase building and pest inspection tells you what you are really buying before you sign. We inspect the house inside and out, the roof space, the roof and the subfloor, check for termite activity and timber pest damage, and then talk you through what we found. You get a phone call between 5pm and 6pm on the day of the inspection, and the written report with photographs the next morning.
Our director and senior inspector, Patrick Dunne, is a registered domestic builder and a licensed pest inspector, so the building and timber pest sides of your inspection are covered by someone qualified in both.
Buying a home? Book your pre-purchase inspection online or call (03) 8797 2639. If you are working to an auction or cooling-off deadline, tell us when you book.
Why Melbourne buyers choose PADinspections
- Registered Domestic Builder and licensed pest inspector leading the team, with professional indemnity insurance.
- Rated 5.0 from 582 Google reviews by buyers across Melbourne and Geelong.
- Around 12,000 inspections completed, including about 1,100 in the last 12 months.
- Same-evening phone rundown and the written report the next morning.
- Subfloors too tight to crawl can be inspected with our CrawlerMate robot, added to your inspection from $110. How the robotic subfloor inspection works.
- Roofs that cannot be walked safely can be photographed by drone, added to your inspection from $150. What a drone roof inspection shows.
What does a pre-purchase building inspection cover?
A pre-purchase building inspection is carried out before you finalise the purchase of a property.
The inspection focuses on the visually and safely accessible areas of the building and may identify:
- Structural defects
- Movement or settlement
- Moisture-related damage
- Roof and guttering issues
- Subfloor defects
- Timber deterioration
- Drainage concerns
- Poorly completed alterations
- Maintenance issues
- Other visible defects requiring repair or further investigation
The aim is to help you make a more informed decision before purchase.
Should you add a timber pest inspection?
PADinspections also provides combined building and timber pest inspections for buyers wanting a broader assessment of the property.
A combined inspection can identify visible building defects as well as evidence of termite activity, timber pest damage and conditions that may increase the risk of future timber pest attack.
Learn More About Timber Pest Inspections
Book Online
Call (03) 8797 2639
What do we commonly find in Melbourne homes?
Some of the issues we regularly identify include:
- Re-stumped homes that remain uneven
- Water leaks and moisture damage
- Rotting structural timbers beneath wet areas
- Poorly completed DIY wall removals
- Structural deficiencies caused by alterations
- Unsafe or poorly constructed decks and pergolas
- Inadequate site drainage
- Footing and foundation movement
- Roof defects
- Active termite activity
- Timber pest damage
- Materials suspected of containing asbestos where visually apparent
Not each issue found identified is necessarily a major defect. Our role is to explain the significance of the findings and help you understand what may require repair, monitoring or further assessment.
Which areas of the property are inspected?
Where safe and accessible, a pre-purchase inspection may include:
- Interior rooms
- Roof exterior
- Roof space
- Building exterior
- Subfloor
- Balconies, decks and verandas
- Garages and sheds
- Visible drainage and moisture-related areas
Access limitations are clearly noted in the report.
Where a subfloor or roof cannot be safely reached, our CrawlerMate subfloor robot and drone roof inspection can often cover areas that would otherwise be recorded as inaccessible.
What do you get after the inspection?
Following the inspection, you will receive a detailed report outlining defects and concerns identified.
Our reports include photographs and practical explanations to help you understand the condition of the property.
Clients can also contact their inspector after receiving the report to discuss any findings.
See what a report looks like before you book: sample building and pest report and sample termite report.
Which inspection do I need?
- Buying an established house: a pre-purchase building and pest inspection, as described on this page.
- Buying an apartment or unit: an apartment building inspection, which looks at waterproofing, balconies and shared areas as well as the apartment itself.
- Building a new home: independent stage inspections during construction, from the slab through to handover.
- Worried about termites in a home you already own: a timber pest inspection on its own.
Pre-Purchase Inspections Across Melbourne
We carry out pre-purchase inspections across Melbourne’s west, including Altona, Point Cook, Werribee, Tarneit, Truganina, Hoppers Crossing, Williamstown, Newport, Footscray, Yarraville and Caroline Springs, as well as North Melbourne and the inner suburbs, the eastern suburbs and Geelong.
Pre-purchase inspection questions
How soon will I get the report?
We call you between 5pm and 6pm on the day of the inspection to talk through what we found. The written report with photographs arrives the next morning.
Do I need to arrange access to the property?
No. Once you book, we contact the selling agent to arrange access and confirm the time and date with you. Payment is taken when the booking is confirmed.
What if the subfloor or roof is hard to reach?
Tight subfloors can be checked with our CrawlerMate robot, and roofs that cannot be walked safely can be photographed by drone. Both can be added to a pre-purchase inspection.
Can I talk to the inspector after reading the report?
Yes. You can contact your inspector after you receive the report to go through any of the findings.
Is a building inspection the same as a building and pest inspection?
No. A building inspection looks at the condition of the structure. A building and pest inspection adds a check for termite activity and timber pest damage.
Book a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection
If you are buying a property and want an independent assessment before purchase, contact PADinspections today.
