Building and pest
Building and pest inspections in Brisbane
A building and pest inspection is a visual check of a home's condition and its timber pest activity, done in one visit before you buy. In Brisbane it costs $495 for a unit and $610 for a typical 3 to 4 bedroom house with Forsite, including GST. The inspection takes about 1.5 to 3 hours and your report arrives within 24 hours, usually the same day.
Buying in Brisbane means timber, heat, humidity and termites. A combined inspection looks at the building and the timber pests together, so nothing falls between two separate reports and you only need to arrange access once.
Unit or apartment
$495
Combined building and timber pest
House or townhouse, up to 2 bedrooms
$560
Combined building and timber pest
Most booked
House, 3 to 4 bedrooms
$610
Combined building and timber pest
House, 5+ bedrooms or over 300 m2
$690
Combined building and timber pest
Prices in AUD, including GST.
What we inspect
Your inspector works through every area that can be safely accessed on the day:
- Inside: ceilings, walls, floors, windows, doors, kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and stairs.
- Roof void: framing, sarking, insulation, signs of leaks, and timber pest activity.
- Roof exterior: sheeting or tiles, flashings, gutters and downpipes, from a ladder or with a pole camera where it is safe.
- Subfloor: stumps, bearers, joists, ventilation, moisture and termite shields on high set and low set homes.
- Outside: walls, cladding, decks, stairs, balustrades, paths, drainage, retaining walls, fences and outbuildings within 30 metres of the house.
- Timber pests: live termites, termite damage, borers, wood decay fungi, and the conditions that invite them, like garden beds against walls or leaking taps.
Two standards, one plain English report
The building part follows AS 4349.1, the Australian Standard for pre-purchase inspections of residential buildings. The timber pest part follows AS 4349.3. Your report keeps both sections clear for your conveyancer and lender, and it starts with a one page summary that tells you, in normal words, what matters most and what can wait.
Every defect is graded as Major, Minor or Safety hazard, with photos and a note on what to do next. See the sample report layout.
Why combine building and pest?
Termite damage is often a building problem too. A sagging floor, a door that sticks or a cracked wall lining can have a timber pest cause. When one inspector or one coordinated team looks at both, the findings line up and you get one price, one appointment with the agent and one conversation about what it all means. It also costs less than booking two separate inspections.
Timing under a Queensland contract
Most Brisbane contracts are signed subject to a building and pest condition with an Inspection Date. Book as soon as your offer is accepted, because you need the report in time to read it, ask questions and give notice by 5pm on that date. We will tell you on the booking call if your deadline is tight. More detail in the building and pest clause and cooling off in QLD.
Questions about this inspection
How long does a building and pest inspection take?
Most Brisbane houses take 1.5 to 3 hours on site. A unit can be done in about an hour. Large Queenslanders with big spaces underneath, split levels and acreage take longer.
Can I attend the inspection?
Yes, and we encourage it. Come for the last 20 to 30 minutes and your inspector will walk you through the main findings on the spot.
Will the report be accepted by my conveyancer and bank?
Yes. The report is written to AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3, includes the property address, date, inspector details and licence numbers, which is what conveyancers and lenders look for.
Ready when you are
Book your inspection before the deadline sneaks up.
Tell us the address and your Inspection Date. We organise access with the agent and confirm a time, usually within 1 to 2 business days.