Building inspection
Pre-purchase building inspections in Brisbane
A pre-purchase building inspection is an independent visual check of a property's structure and condition to AS 4349.1, done before you commit to buy. It costs $420 for a unit and $480 for a 3 to 4 bedroom house with Forsite, including GST. Most buyers in Brisbane add a timber pest inspection for $610 combined.
A building inspection tells you what condition the home is really in, beyond the styling and the open home lighting. It is how you find the expensive problems while you can still negotiate or walk away.
Building only, unit or apartment
$420
AS 4349.1 building report
Building only, house 3 to 4 bedrooms
$480
AS 4349.1 building report
Most booked
House, 3 to 4 bedrooms
$610
Combined building and timber pest
Prices in AUD, including GST.
What a building inspection looks for
- Structural defects: cracking in walls and slabs, movement in stumps and footings, roof framing problems, sagging floors and failing retaining walls.
- Water and moisture: leaking showers, rising damp, roof leaks, poor drainage, ponding near the slab and blocked or undersized gutters.
- Roof condition: rusted or loose sheeting, cracked tiles and ridge capping, flashing failures and missing sarking.
- Safety hazards: loose balustrades, unsafe stairs, trip hazards and anything else that puts people at risk.
- Minor defects and maintenance: the smaller items that add up, listed so you can plan a budget.
Brisbane homes have their own patterns
Timber Queenslanders on stumps move with the seasons and often show uneven floors, tired stumps and old renovations underneath. Post war homes may have fibro sheeting that needs care. 1970s and 1980s brick homes on slabs bring their own issues with slab edges, roof tiles and wet areas. Newer townhouses can hide waterproofing and drainage shortcuts. Knowing the era tells your inspector where to look harder.
Building only, or building and pest?
A building inspection under AS 4349.1 does not include a full timber pest assessment. In Brisbane, where termite pressure is high, we recommend the combined building and pest inspection for almost every purchase. Building only suits buyers who already have a current timber pest report or are buying a strata unit high in a concrete building.
Questions about this inspection
Is a building inspection compulsory in Queensland?
No. It is not a legal requirement, but most Brisbane buyers make their contract subject to a building and pest inspection because it is the main way to protect yourself from hidden defects.
What is the difference between a major and a minor defect?
A major defect is one serious enough to need rectification without undue delay to avoid unsafe conditions, loss of use or further deterioration. Minor defects are common wear, maintenance items and small faults. Our summary explains each one in plain English.
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.