All prospective purchasers can benefit from an independent third-party building inspection of any home they are looking to buy.

An independent building inspection will provide a detailed and thorough review of your proposed purchase through the eyes of a seasoned industry expert whose findings will help you to better understand the actual condition of your home before you are fully committed to the purchase and have entered into a binding contract.

Many prospective buyers focus on the building design, location, school zoning and of course market pricing etc however, such focus whilst important, can often lead to having overlooked structural, moisture, safety issues that can adversely impact on your family’s enjoyment of the home post settlement, not to mention potential costly repairs for which you may not have the funds.

It is important to remember that it is in the best interests of the seller to present any home offered for sale at its best in order to obtain the highest possible sale price and some unscrupulous sellers may even attempt to hide or disguise any known defects in order obtain the best financial outcome for themselves.

Whether you’re a first home buyer purchasing your first home or a seasoned property investor looking expanding your portfolio, a small investment with Building Inspections by Delta with a pre-purchase building inspection will provide peace of mind, and avoid the potential pitfalls and financial risks of purchasing a property without a detailed property inspection.

Typically, a Pre-purchase inspection will cover the following aspects;

Structural Components: House foundations, footings & Sub Floor, Wall, Roof & ceiling framing. At Building Inspections by Delta, we look for all signs that may indicate structural concerns including but not limited to sagging roof structure, cracking plasterboard walls and cornice, sagging or cracked ceiling plasterboard, signs of rot or water damage and sagging/creaking floors.

External Inspection: Roof coverings including all roof plumbing & drainage (gutters/downpipes), fascia, capping & flashing, external brickwork & lightweight cladding, concrete paths, driveways and fences. At Building Inspections by Delta, we will highlight all areas of concern accordingly.

Internal Areas: At Building Inspections by Delta, we will inspect all doors, windows, Kitchen, Bathroom & Laundry joinery to confirm correct function with specific attention to comment on waterproofing concerns. All visible signs of moisture & mould will be documented accordingly. A visual inspection of all plumbing/electrical fittings & fixture will also be undertaken for any obvious defects.

Timber Pest Inspection: Termites and wood-borers have been known to cause thousands of dollars in damage not to mention structurally compromise your home and our reports will investigate your home for signs of termite/borer. At Building Inspections by Delta, we will include commentary on all signs of pest infestation and where identified we are able to utilise specialist equipment to further investigate any suspect areas.

A building inspection report will be issued in accordance with AS4349.1, which will provide a detailed independent and unbiased summary of the overall condition of the property you are intending to purchase thereby enabling you to make an informed decision on your prospective purchase.

At building Inspections by Delta, we highly recommend that a building inspection form part of any conditional offer put forward allowing you the option to withdraw should the report findings be unfavourable and too costly to repair or alternatively allow you the opportunity to modify your offer based on the report findings. 

The following are some of the hidden issues or defects found within metropolitan Melbourne and beyond;

Rising Damp: Is commonly found throughout Melbourne yet is more common in older homes which can damage brickwork, mortar with flow on effects to structural timber members such as rot etc. Our experienced inspectors will identify any signs for this condition and document this accordingly. Untreated rising damp has the potential to lead to expensive repairs and or having home insurance declined

Water leaks/Moisture: Damaged roofing, roof guttering, roof flashing or cladding has the potential to lead to water ingress internally potentially leading to expensive repairs for water damage and or mould. Conversely, leaking tapware or pipework, missing or damaged waterproofing also has the potential to lead to costly damage and or having home insurance declined.

Termites & Wood Borers: The vast majority of homes constructed in Melbourne and the East coast of Australia are built using timber framed construction which is both cost effective and ecologically sound however, if adequate precautions have not been taken or regular inspections undertaken this has the potential to lead to termite &/or Borer damage. At Building Inspections by Delta, we will investigate all common areas of termite ingress and or associated and typical signs of infestation or damage. Common signs are springy timber floors, blistered paint to timberwork and or above ground termite tubes. Termite infestation has the potential to lead to significant repair costs and or having home insurance declined.

Subfloor and Foundation subsidence: Inadequate footing/sub floor design, poor workmanship and changes in ground moisture conditions can lead to differential settlement of footings and/or stumps resulting in a home which is no longer level and potentially structurally compromised. At Building Inspections by Delta, we have specialised equipment (laser level) to comment on this where identified. Common signs are cracked internal wall plaster, cracked brickwork joints, damaged concrete paths and drives. This issue if present can also lead to costly repairs and or having home insurance declined.

Asbestos and other possible safety concerns: 

Asbestos was commonly used in Victoria and Australia up until the 1990’s and it is common to encounter cement sheet products made from asbestos in eaves, external cladding and internal wall linings. At Building Inspections by Delta, we will endeavour to visually identify possible areas containing asbestos however, this does not usually form part of our inspection as this usually requires a specialist contractor and may require sample testing etc. Note: The presence of asbestos in itself does not in itself constitute and safety concern unless it is damaged.

Older homes may contain electrical wiring and or switchboards which is no longer deemed compliant per the current codes and where possible Building Inspections by Delta will advise where this has been identified.

Unpermitted owner builder works or Renovations: 

Home owners have been known to undertake DIY home alterations and renovations without obtaining appropriate documentation including engineering & building permits and/or undertaking licensed plumbing or electrical works without using appropriately licensed tradespeople in an effort to save a few dollars. Where identified Buildings Inspections by Delta will highlight any works will include this into any produced reports.

Note: Undisclosed and illegal alterations can lead to fines, demolition of the works in question and or retrospective documentation and design or any combination of the above.

If you have entered into a contract with a Domestic Builder to undertake construction of a home. It makes logical sense to engage an independent Building inspector who has no relationship with the builder in  question, acting on your behalf to confirm the builder work is in accordance with your signed contractual documentation & specifications. Additionally, we will provide another layer of review beyond the statutory inspections by the nominated Building Surveyor to ensure conformance with the National Construction Code as well as industry accepted best practice for trade workmanship.

At Building Inspections by Delta, we offer competitive individual stage pricing for each construction stage as well as discounted combined stage pricing to provide peace of mind for the duration of construction

Any Building Inspection service should have extensive theoretical and practical experience gained over many years in residential construction industry.

Ideally, your chosen building inspection service will be registered with peak industry bodies such as the Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBAV) or The Housing Industry Association (HIA).

Any chosen Building Inspection service should also be registered as a Domestic Builder Unlimited which is the highest standard achievable for a domestic builder. Highlighting that they have been independently reviewed and assessed by the industries regulatory body (Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC formally known as the VBA) and deemed to be proficient in all areas of residential construction.

Your chosen building inspection service should carry professional indemnity & public liability insurance which will give you peace of mind should a major defect be missed at the time of inspection.

Your chosen Building Inspection Service should be able to provide detailed inspection reports which have been produced in accordance with the Australian Standard guidelines specifically AS-4349.1.

At Building Inspections by Delta, we offer the following;

• 35 years practical industry experience in residential construction,
• Platinum membership with the MBAV,
• Domestic Builder Unlimited registration with the BPC,
• Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurance
• Issue reports in accordance with AS-4349.1

For a nominal up-front investment, this will allow you the opportunity to better understand the actual condition of the property you are proposing to purchase as opposed to what the seller and real estate agent are showing you.

In many instances you can make any purchase offer conditional upon on the owner undertaking any significant repairs at their own expense  or

Where significant defects have been identified, you can use the provided report to re-negotiate the final price allowing to cover the defect repair costs or alternatively use the report to agree a specific discount to be applied to the final figure.

In instances where the defects noted are less significant and you are comfortable taking on the repair of these post settlement then you can also use the contents of the report to prioritise your rectifications and budget for these to be completed post settlement.

Alternatively, when you have not been able to negotiate for the owner to undertake repairs at their own cost prior to settlement or renegotiate the final price or have a discount applied, provided you have made any offer subject to the findings of an independent building inspection you are able to withdraw from the purchase without any financial penalty.

For a minimal investment with Building Inspections by Delta you will be better off financially whether you do or don’t proceed ahead with the property purchase

All the services we provide are subject to our standard Terms & Conditions.

We will email you a copy of your tax invoice at the time of booking with various payment options available to suit your preferred payment method. Payment is required to be made in full in order to confirm the booking and lock in our site attendance.

If payment has not been made at the time of booking, we will not be able to confirm our site attendance.

Note: The inspection prices offered are highly competitive within the industry and are based on the following;

Apartments – Up to 3 Bedrooms & 100m2

Single storey homes – Up to 4 bedrooms & 350m2

Double storey homes – Up to 4 bedrooms & 450m2

The pricing as offered does not cover homes beyond the above scope and these will need to be priced individually on a POA basis.

Additionally, Custom or Prestige Homes, or homes outside the Metropolitan area or homes on acreage will need to be quoted individually.

All pricing will be confirmed at the time of booking and whilst we endeavour to ensure our online pricing is correct, we reserve the right to alter our pricing from time to time taking into account the prevailing market conditions in addition to special offers from time to time.

All existing bookings and associated fees paid will remain current until the agreed scope of works has been completed. of sup

Our director is a construction industry professional with in excess of 35 years’ experience in various senior roles including Construction, Project & Operations Management, Estimating, Cost Planning & Tender Management in addition to having operated as director of his own construction business. He is registered Domestic Builder Unlimited and has a high attention to detail, thereby ensuring all inspections & reports produced enable the purchaser to make informed decisions about their prospective purchase.

Building Inspections by Delta also holds professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Our director is a construction industry professional with in excess of 35 years’ experience in various senior roles including Construction, Project & Operations Management, Estimating, Cost Planning & Tender Management in addition to having operated as director of his own construction business. He is registered Domestic Builder Unlimited and has a high attention to detail, thereby ensuring all inspections & reports produced enable the purchaser to make informed decisions about their prospective purchase.

Building Inspections by Delta also holds professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

A typical home inspection will take anywhere between one to two hours depending on the size and general condition of the property in question in addition to the overall number of defects/issues that have been identified.

At Building Inspections by Delta, we strive to issue all reports within a few hours of concluding our site inspection as long as payment has been received at the time of booking.

Building Inspections by Delta we have direct access to various pieces of equipment that can be relied upon to provide additional detail as required.

In addition to general tools such as;

• Spirit level manual/Digital spirit level
• Laser distance measure/tape measure/ruler
• Ladder
• Head lamps
• Voltage tester

We also carry and utilize the following specialist equipment on an “as needs basis”

• Moisture measure – Klein ET140 – (Pin less)

On receipt of your detailed building inspection report you are welcome to reach out and speak with the inspection professional who has undertaken the site inspection and is most familiar with your home and the contents of the report if you have any questions. We will happily answer your questions and address any areas of concern as required.

Once you have read the contents of your report and would like to speak with us call us on 0449-283-282 and we can answer your questions or alternatively we may be undertaking an inspection at the time of your call and we would request leave a message and we will call you back once we are able to do so.

Provided you have entered into a standard Domestic Building Contract a builder cannot refuse access for a third party engaged by their client to undertake an independent inspection on their behalf, provided you have provided them with the required notice period in writing.

Please note that penalties apply should the builder in question elect not to allow full and unhindered access to your nominated building inspector to inspect/view any part of the works under construction