Key takeaways
- A building inspection checks structure and safety; a pest inspection checks for termites and timber damage.
- Book them before the contract goes unconditional — before auction day if you’re bidding.
- Findings can be used to renegotiate, request repairs, or walk away (private treaty).
- A few hundred dollars here can prevent a very expensive mistake.
The property looks perfect. The photos are beautiful. And none of that tells you whether the roof leaks, the deck is unapproved, or termites are quietly eating the frame. A building and pest inspection is how you find out before you own the problem — and it’s the best-value spend in the entire buying process.
What each one covers
- Building inspection. The structural and safety condition — roof, walls, foundations, visible plumbing and wiring, and defects such as cracking, water damage, movement or unsafe DIY work.
- Pest inspection. Timber pests — above all termites — plus evidence of past damage or conditions that invite it.
They’re usually booked together and delivered as written reports you can act on.
Timing is everything
Get them done before your contract becomes unconditional. For a private-treaty purchase, that’s during your cooling-off or finance-and-inspection period. For an auction, it must be before you bid — there’s no cooling-off, so a nasty surprise afterwards is entirely your problem.
An inspection isn’t just protection — it’s leverage. On a private-treaty purchase, a report showing real defects can let you renegotiate the price, ask for repairs, or withdraw. Skipping it to save a few hundred dollars can cost you many times that.
How it fits your purchase
Inspections run alongside your finance. While we sort your approval and confirm the property suits your lender, your inspections confirm the property suits you. Both need to land before you go unconditional — it’s all part of the sequence in our first home buyer guide.
Broker Insight. A few hundred dollars of inspection has saved our clients from six-figure mistakes more than once. It’s the cheapest insurance in the whole process.
Buy with your eyes open
We’ll coordinate your finance timeline around your inspections so nothing goes unconditional before you’re sure — property and loan both. Free, no obligation.
Book your free game plan callFrequently asked questions
What does a building and pest inspection cover?
A building inspection assesses the structural condition and safety of the property — the roof, walls, foundations, plumbing and wiring visible on inspection, and defects like cracking, water damage or unsafe work. A pest inspection checks for timber pests, most importantly termites, and evidence of past damage. Together they give you an independent picture of the property’s real condition before you’re locked in.
When should I get a building and pest inspection?
Before your contract becomes unconditional. For a private-treaty purchase that means during the cooling-off or finance-and-inspection period; for an auction it means before you bid, because there’s no cooling-off. Booking early gives you time to act on the findings — negotiate, ask for repairs, or walk away — rather than discovering problems too late.
Can I use inspection findings to negotiate?
Often, yes — for private-treaty purchases. If the report reveals significant issues, you may be able to renegotiate the price, request repairs, or withdraw within your cooling-off or conditional period. At auction there’s no such leverage after the hammer falls, which is why the inspection has to happen beforehand. A good report is both protection and a negotiating tool.
This guide is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. It is not financial or credit advice. Government schemes, lender policies, rates and tax rules change over time and eligibility criteria apply. Speak with us for advice tailored to your situation.