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Perform a Do-It-Yourself inspection

It is difficult to imagine buying a car without checking the motor and taking it for a test drive. Unfortunately many people do just this when buying a house, which costs so much more! By properly inspecting the property you intend to purchase you’ll know the exact condition of it, thereby reducing the ‘surprise’ of possible costly repairs found to be necessary after you take possession. These lists show some of the aspects you should consider when inspecting a property:

Inside the home

• Check that all the floors are level and that there are no gaps between the floor and skirting boards.

• Jump lightly on wood floorboards to assess their stability.

• Look for signs of rising damp, including rotting carpet, mould on the walls or ceiling and musty odours.

• Check the walls and ceiling for warping and cracks. Fresh paint or wallpaper may be hiding problem areas.

• Assess whether doors and windows are square. Jamming may indicate structural subsidence.

• Make sure all light switches work. Also check each power point by using a power point tester (these are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased from hardware and electrical stores).

• Test the water pressure in both hot and cold taps. Ideally, turn on several taps simultaneously. Partially fill the bath or sink and observe the drainage of this water. Sluggish flow could indicate damaged or blocked sewer drains.

Outside the home

• Inspect fences and gates for stability and rot.

• Are there any large trees near the house? The root systems of trees can cause structural subsidence if they are close to the home.

• Check that the land's water runoff drains away from the house.

• Inspect all outside walls. Are they straight, cracked or rotten?

• The condition of the mortar between the bricks must also be assessed.

• Make sure there is adequate sub-floor ventilation.

• Check the condition of the eaves. Water staining may be an indication of damaged gutters.

• Look at the line of the roof to make sure it is straight. Are there any broken tiles?

• Check the stumps for subsidence, rot, borer or termite attack.

A professional inspection

Professional inspectors should examine every accessible part of the home, including the roof space and sub-floor. They will check for poor structure, leaking roofing and guttering, subsiding footings, faulty wiring and plumbing, dampness, rot and many other faults.

Inspections are not designed to disclose cosmetic deficiencies (e.g. paint chipping in the kitchen). You will need to decide for yourself whether these types of items need attention.

You should be provided a written Inspection Report following the inspection. This will inform you of any property faults, how bad these are and give you a guide to probable repair costs. Inspectors may also be able to give you qualified advice on any home improvement ideas you may have.

Armed with this information you can decide whether you wish to purchase the property. If you do decide to make an offer on the property, you will be in a far better position to negotiate.

Your local Building Advisory Service, or perhaps the Construction Industry Council’s approved Inspector’s list, should be able to help you find a professional inspector.

The buying process can be so quick, especially in a hot market, and a lot of people are lulled into a false sense of security. They forget to perform the due diligence required of such a large purchase. After having discovered faults in the property many buyers find they can not afford to spend money on repairs and are forced to either take out a loan, or put up with the problem, which causes stress and annoyance. And It's not just the problem itself; it's what it leads to if it doesn't get fixed

There is no point getting angry with the seller either - in many cases, they are unaware of the problems themselves. It’s surprising what people live with without knowing it! They are usually very surprised when an inspection report comes back with issues on it – even more reason to have one done. By Joanna Johnson