Unexpected defects and hazardous materials in buildings can burden buyers with added costs and health risks. Safe and Sound Property Inspections says having a building thoroughly inspected has its merits.
Port Melbourne, Victoria -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- With the peak of property sales in South Australia already in progress, experts warn of the potential risks buyers are unwittingly taking on with skipping a building inspection. A buyer may forego a building inspection to save on costs but this comes with the risk of incurring unexpected repairs and health hazards. Melbourne-based firm Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM (PI) advises buyers to engage professional services to help them understand the actual condition of a property before purchasing. The firm contends that experienced consultants are not dazzled by the décor the real condition of a house.
Mark Brandon, Ivanhoe property inspections consultant at Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM, said, “A well-kept house is not certified up to code and may have hidden problems. Buyers should make inspections the first order of business in any property purchase.” Mr. Brandon said trained inspectors can look beyond the granite counters and curb appeal to estimate the remaining life in a roof, the soundness of the foundation and the standards of the wiring and plumbing, among others.
Furthermore, an inspector can identify the presence of asbestos, a known cancer-causing substance. Homeowners, repair personnel and renovators can become exposed when asbestos is released into the air as dust or fibres during renovations and repairs. The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency estimates that approximately one out of three Australian homes contains asbestos products. Contrary to popular belief, the presence of asbestos cannot be determined by visual scrutiny alone and may be found in parts of the building one may not expect. According to Asbestos Education Committee chair Peter Dunphy, no level of exposure to the material is considered safe. With asbestos, a little can go a long way, in a negative sense.
For most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase they will ever make. The decision should go beyond surface appeal. However, in many cases, purchasing a home is as much an emotional decision as it is a business transaction. Bringing in an expert who can look at things from a technical standpoint is necessary to provide a degree of balance to the decision-making. If nothing else, a building inspection will help a potential buyer catalogue a home or building’s faults and drive down the price. Armed with these notes and the inspector’s official report, a buyer can use the findings as leverage to negotiate for a lower price.
A building inspection can be conducted at any point during the sale or auction. To ensure that inspections are performed professionally and efficiently, buyers should deal only with licensed professionals with verified references.
About Safe and Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM has its clients’ best interests at heart. The firm conducts inspections to the Australian standards AS 4349.1-2007 for property inspections and AS 3660.2-2000 for timber pest inspections. For more information, contact Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au, or through his Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts.