FAQ’s

Sydney PrePurchase is a small family building consultancy firm that specialises in pre-sale and pre-purchase building and pest inspections and reports – across the greater Sydney area. Our inspectors are experienced licensed builders with specialised training and consultancy experience. We have been reliably serving the Sydney building and real estate industries since 2010. Our clients include buyers, sellers/vendors, solicitors and conveyancers, real estate agents, building owners and tenants, banks and government departments.

A ‘combined building & pest inspection’ is the standard level of ‘due diligence’ in NSW (and in other states) when buying or selling a property. This is by far our most common service and can apply to any situation. A ‘pest and building’ report will include 2 reports, one from the builder about the condition of the building and property. The second report is a ‘Timber Pest Inspection Report’ which concentrates on Subterranean Termites and wood borers. It comments on conditions conducive to timber pest attack, areas where termites can get in, if any previous termite treatments have been done and what kind of termite management system is present? if any.  We always recommend getting both inspections for several reasons. a) There is a relatively high risk of subterranean termite attack in the Sydney area – due to climate, topography, and other environmental considerations like established eucalypt trees and urban sprawl. b) Experienced licensed builders are best placed to provide structural advice where damage is found  c) It doesn’t really cost more to get the pest reports as practically speaking we can provide the additional information in a cost effective manner. The information in the pest report could be ‘life-saving’. Not sure? Just ask when calling.

Max 24hrs. Once the inspection is completed, we normally email the completed reports the morning following the inspection at 9am (regardless of wheather the next day is a weekend or public holiday). Same day reports can be arranged (where possible) when booking. This would mean the report would be emailed by early evening in most cases 5-6pm.

Please call Chloe on our office mobile on 0488900386 or book online through our website at https://www.sydneyprepurchase.com.au/contact/#bo

We accept all major credit/debit cards including AMEX, subject to relevant surcharges. We accept payment over the phone as the fastest and most secure way to make payment. Most customers prefer to pay with credit card due to the time required for transactions using EFT, Direct Debit and interbank transfers. Bank transfers can take several days, especially over weekends, that’s why using a credi/debit card over the phone is the safest and fastest payment option.(rest assured in accordance with law, we don’t keep a record of customers credit card or bank information).  Please understand we cannot confirm the booking or allocate an inspector, until payment has been received.

Our inspections and reports follow the Australian Standard AS4349 as a ‘minimum’ for inspections procedure and reporting content, however our inspectors will often go above and beyond the standard whenever possible. We often get told our inspectors are very thorough.

Sydney PrePurchase ensures you get the most thorough inspection and detailed report possible, every single time. From booking to report delivery we make sure you have the information you need, delivered on time. That is our professional guarantee to you. Satisfaction with our service, or your money back.

Sydney PrePurchase has been established for nearly 15 years, so that equates to many thousands of building and pest inspections conducted by us in the Sydney area. Prior to this, we had over 20 years of wide ranging experience in the building and construction sector. Generally speaking (to obtain professional indemnity insurance) a building inspector must have at least 15 years prior experience as a licensed builder, that’s a starting point. Becoming an inspector/consultant takes another couple of years of training and technical practice. Being a good builder is only part of being a good consultant. Our customers rely on clear and relevant information expressed as simply as possible.

Subject to ‘safe and reasonable access’, the inspector will check everything – including the following areas: Roof exterior, roof interior, building exterior, building interior, subfloor voids (where relevant), the site is check for issues, such as landscaping, retaining walls, trees and fences (up to 30 metres from the main dwelling). A standard inspection should include 1 outbuilding such as a garage or shed. Additional dwellings like granny flats or self contained units are subject to quotation. We can provide onsite consultations provided you have pre-arranged this with the relevant parties. We provide full telephone support from the inspector. Our inspectors are always happy to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. They prefer the customer to read the report before talking on the phone. 

A combined building and pest report will include 2 documents (in one report).

• A building defect report. The building report will concentrate on ‘major defects’ or matters that are significant, should be further investigated or damage where damage is found that needs to be repaired or replaced. Examples of major defects tend to fall into several main categories: Structural issues like cracks, footing defects, distortion and the like. Water penetration issues like leaking roofs and balconies, failed waterproof membranes in bathrooms or damp penetration issues like rising damp and basement damp proofing issues. Aside from checking the building we also check the site and landscaping, trees, retaining walls and fences. Whils we are not plumbers, the building inspector can provide appraisal on things like possible site drainage problems and how this might affect the building.
• A Timber Pest report concentrates on Subterranean Termites, Timber Borers and Wood Decay Fungi and the possible structural or economic damage that might be related. Primarily concerned with the possibility of historical termite activity on site or in the building, the pest inspector will ‘tap’ walls, timber trims and framing timbers where possible/relevant looking for ‘concealed damage’. The inspector will look for previous termite treatments or termite management systems and make recommendations for future termite management. Pest inspectors look at factors that are conducive to termite attack, as well as areas where ‘hidden entry’ can be gained into the building. In the Pest Report an ‘Overall Assessment’ of the risk of subterranean attack is provided for the property along with future management recommendations.

These days it is commonplace for a building and pest report to be provided as part of sale of the property. It is important to understand these reports are commissioned by the owner or selling agent. Whilst these vendor reports can have several advantages for the parties selling, we find that many of these reports are not detailed enough for scrupulous buyers. As humans we must accept some degree of natural bias in people. It is human nature to ‘downplay’ the serious defects as an owner in order to get the best return possible on their investment. Sure the report is supposed to be ‘unbaised’, but think about who is paying for it. Over the years our customers have told us, there is no comparison between reports on the same property.

For an independent and more detailed investigation of the property, contact us at Sydney PrePurchase on 0488 900386.

Once payment is made, we will make arrangements with the relevant parties on your behalf, such as selling agents, owners and tenants and will liaise with the Inspector accordingly. Please understand the inspection requires gaining access to other people’s property and homes and requires approval and cooperation sometimes from 3rd parties. This can take several days depending.

Cancellation by client within 24hrs = 25% refund (due to resource allocation)

Cancellation by client beyond 24hrs = full refund less $30 admin fee

No fault cancellation or access difficulty = we usually try to re-shcedule or provide a Credit to be used at a later time.

Things change. We get it. Talk to us on 0488 900386

Provided we can get access, the inspection can usually be booked for the ‘next day’ or ‘same day’ if we are in the area.

The inspection of a standard property takes 1-1.5hrs (excluding data entry or reporting). Sometimes much longer for larger properties.

The reports are completed in the office and are delivered via email the following morning by 9am. Regardless if this day happens to fall on a weekend or public holiday. Same day reports are possible (please ask when booking) and usually reports are emailed early evening 5-6pm.

It is important our customers read and understand the reports. Looking at a 50 page document can be like looking at a brick wall. Hopefully this summary might help to ‘break it down’.

For simplicity we send one PDF document of around 1MB size. A combined building and pest report is 2 separate reports (in one document) and is around 50-55 pages.

The Building report is first in the document and is colour coded blue.

The Timber Pest report is second in the document (normally around page 30) and is colour coded red.

A Report Contents list is found on page 3.

PAGE 5 – First read the building report summary (page 5-6) to get a ‘1-2 page snapshot’ of everything the inspector found at the property to be significant or relevant. This summary is hand written by the inspector and will be unique for the building. The major defects or significant items will be written to include building context/age/type as well as the intended scope of the inspection. Where relevant, it will usually include anything Timber Pest related, such as past Termite damage or treatment history. Page 5 is everything the inspector wants you to know – in short form.

PAGE 6 – Immediately after the summary is the ‘conclusion’. This is an overall / comparative assessment of the frequency of minor and major defects for a building its type and age. Is the building Above average, below average or in Typical Condition for its type and age? This can be very helpful to understand the overall property condition, comparatively. The report may contain 4-5 major defects, but is still consided ‘typical condition’. In other words, the next property that is ‘similar’, may have similar issues.

PAGES 8-10 – Administration mainly, not essential to understand the defects, but helpful to understand the limitations and access conditions. Report sections include Access Summary, Inspection Details, Description of Property Inspected and contains terms and conditions such as ‘Safe and reasonable Access’, something determined by the Australian Standard AS4349. See Q&A below for more detail.

PAGES 10 Onwards – Contains the Building Report Findings in further detail. Includes photographs of significant items and recommendations for further investigation.

PAGE 22 – Crack Register – This report section will detail any significant cracking at the property.

PAGES 22-30 – Includes the report scope and limitations, terms used and maintenance advice as well as the inspector’s details.

AROUND PAGE 30-32 – Timber Pest Report – This is a concise and easy to follow report, starting with a summary.

The most significant information in the timber pest report relates to subterranean termites. Is there possible previous activity in the building? If so, is the damage localised or widespread? Is there possible concealed damage? Do we understand what that might look like? How can termites return to the site or gain undetected access into the building in the future? What kind of risk category (overall) is the property and what are the future termite treatment / management recommendations moving forward?  Timber borer damage is not common and is usually not economic. Wood decay causes lots of economic damage in buildings but is usually more anticipated or obvious than concealed termite activity.