A pre-purchase house inspection carried out by an experienced professional is the only way to get the true picture of a house you may be thinking of buying.
Serious defects and potentially expensive repair issues are not always obvious at first glance or in the course of a real estate inspection.
Keep reading to see examples of the kind of problems our inspectors regularly identify in the course of a pre-purchase house inspection.
Area: Shower Enclosure – Floor
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘This shower hadn’t been used for a couple of days. My moisture meter detected high levels of moisture. The wall of the adjoining room behind was also checked but returned no alarming readings.’
‘My conclusion is that the grout in the base area had cracking and deterioration, allowing excessive moisture to build up. This moisture, trapped below the surface, was unable to dry out readily and will lead to further damage if not rectified.’
Area: Shower Enclosure – Wall
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘This is where the moisture level readings were highest. They were concentrated mainly around the tap bases and fittings, indicating a common potential problem. These areas are often not sealed correctly (silicone sealant should be used under the cover plates).
This is important to spot, as it can lead to moisture penetration damage and swelling of the tile backing wall board and the adjoining walls of other rooms.’
Location: These images shows the stumps/brick piers. An inspection of the sub-floor framing revealed signs of movement and settlment.
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘The first image shows that the stumps have been excessively packed (see arrow) and the floor throughout is out of level and undulating. The internal walls and external brickwork have excessive cracking. I would recommend engaging a structual engineer to investigate the cause of these major structural defects’.
‘The second image shows that this stump is clearly not supporting the floor in any way. Further investigation found that this site was once marsh/swamp land and that other properties in the area have similar issues’.
Outcome: This contract of sale had already been signed, subject to the results of a pre-purchase building inspection. The prospective new owner opted not to proceed with the purchase after viewing the report findings.
Location: This image shows the concrete pathway, view to the east, southern elevation.
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘Here is an example of defective surface drainage and the damage caused to the adjoining brickwork. An over-concentration of surface drainage can cause reactive slab heave resulting in abnormal movement and cracking’.
Location: This image shows external brickwork.
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘The southern elevation wall is out of plumb – see arrow and spirit level. This can be a result of slab heave.’
Location: This image shows the the lower edge of the front entrance door.
Our Inspector’s Comments: ‘The lower edge of the door is weathered and swollen – refer to arrow and mirror. Unsealed door edges or exposed end grain can absorb moisture through capillaration leading to premature weathering and damage.’
Are you building, buying, selling, renovating or investing? Looking for an experienced and reputable building inspection company?
The Home Inspection Hub are the residential inspection professionals.
We conduct all types of residential inspections throughout Melbourne, Geelong and Central Victoria:
- Pre-Purchase House Inspections
- Building and Pest Inspections with Crunch Pest Control
- New Home Construction Inspections – all stages as well as Contract Review, Stand-Alone PCI and Maintenance Inspections
- Owner Builder Defects (137B) Reports
- Special Purpose Inspections
- VCAT Reports and Expert Witness
- Tax Depreciation Reports
- Building Dispute Reports
We offer:
- A free quote service
- Free sample reports
- Quick report turnaround
With over 20,000 inspections under our belt and an established reputation, The Home Inspection Hub provides peace of mind for the biggest purchase you will ever make.
Call us today on 1300 071 283 or email info@thehomeinspectionhub.com.au and see how we can assist you in your home-buying journey.
