Building and pest inspection questions, answered

With Forsite, a combined building and pest inspection costs $495 for a unit or apartment, $560 for a house up to 2 bedrooms, $610 for a 3 to 4 bedroom house and $690 for 5+ bedrooms, all including GST. Across Brisbane, published prices for a typical house range from about $495 to $650 including GST. See all prices.

The buyer usually pays, because the inspection is for the buyer's protection under the building and pest condition in their contract. Sellers sometimes pay for a pre-sale inspection before listing.

Usually within 1 to 2 business days of booking, depending on when the agent can give access. If your Inspection Date is close, tell us when you book and we will do everything we can, including urgent bookings for a small fee.

Yes. Give us the agent's name and number when you book and we organise a time with them, then confirm it with you.

Payment is due before the report is released. [CONFIRM PAYMENT TERMS AND METHODS]

Most houses take 1.5 to 3 hours on site, and a unit takes about an hour. Large or high set homes, homes with lots of storage or furniture, and acreage take longer.

It covers the interior, roof void, roof exterior, subfloor, exterior and site within 30 metres of the house, plus a timber pest inspection for termites, borers, wood decay and conducive conditions. Areas must be safely accessible. Read what is included in detail.

No, but it helps. Many buyers join for the last 20 to 30 minutes so the inspector can show them the key findings. Either way you get a phone walkthrough after the report.

Not fully. A building inspector will note materials that may contain asbestos, such as old fibro sheeting, but confirming asbestos needs sampling and laboratory testing by a licensed assessor. In Queensland, homes built or renovated before 1990 are likely to contain some asbestos.

We report visible mould and the moisture problems that cause it, such as leaks, poor ventilation and rising damp, and we use a moisture meter and thermal camera where useful. Air quality testing for mould spores is a separate specialist service.

No. Electrical, plumbing and gas compliance needs a licensed tradesperson. We will note obvious visible issues such as a leaking tap or a damaged power point and recommend a specialist check.

Where it is safe, yes, using a ladder up to 3.6 metres. For higher or steep roofs we use a pole camera or inspect from vantage points [CONFIRM DRONE USE]. The report states exactly how the roof was inspected.

Locked rooms, stored goods, furniture against walls, low or tight subfloors, roof voids without safe access, bad weather and pets can all limit what can be seen. The report lists any restrictions and what they mean for your risk.

Your report arrives within 24 hours, and usually the same day, by email as a PDF with photos.

Start with the summary page, then look at anything marked Major defect or Safety hazard, then the timber pest findings. Minor defects are usually maintenance items. Read our guide to reading your report and see the sample layout.

There is no official expiry date, because the report describes the home on the inspection day. Lenders and buyers generally prefer a recent report, and termites can arrive at any time, so if months pass before settlement consider a fresh timber pest check.

Yes. Reports follow AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3 and include the property, date, scope, limitations, inspector details and licence numbers.

You read the report, talk it through with us, then decide with your conveyancer whether to proceed, ask the seller to fix or reduce the price, or terminate under the building and pest condition before 5pm on the Inspection Date.

No, it is not a legal requirement. It is strongly recommended, and most Brisbane buyers make their contract subject to a satisfactory building and pest report.

It is a condition in the standard REIQ contract that makes the sale subject to the buyer getting satisfactory building and pest reports by the Inspection Date. It only applies if an Inspection Date is filled in, and notice must be given by 5pm on that date. Read the full guide.

In Queensland most buyers sign first, subject to a building and pest condition, then inspect during the inspection period. Inspecting before you sign is wise for auctions and unconditional offers, because there is no building and pest condition to rely on.

Five business days for most residential sales, ending at 5pm on the fifth business day. If you terminate during cooling off the seller can keep up to 0.25% of the price. There is no cooling off period when you buy at auction.

Usually yes, but the focus is different. We inspect the unit itself and the common areas we can access, and you should also read the body corporate records for building defects, sinking fund balance and special levies. See our guide for unit buyers.

Auction contracts in Queensland are unconditional, so the inspection should happen before the auction. Once the hammer falls you cannot terminate because of a building and pest report.

Yes. Our building inspections are carried out under QBCC licence [QBCC LICENCE NO.] and timber pest inspections under pest management licence [PEST LICENCE NO.]. We hold [INSURANCE].

Yes. We work for you, the person who books and pays. We do not pay agents for referrals and we do not sell repairs or termite treatments.

All of Brisbane City, plus nearby parts of Moreton Bay, Logan, Redland and Ipswich. See our service areas. Travel outside the core area may add a small fee, quoted before you book.