Why you should have a building inspection before buying a property

It is without a doubt one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime. So when buying a house, it is smart to consider taking those extra precautions to make sure you get what you pay for.

Building inspections can save you a lot of money and time down the track. The last thing any new home owner wants after they've settled in is to find a problem they didn't know was there.

It is important to always remember this: If you arrange for an inspection by a professional before the sale goes through, the problem is still the seller's. If you choose not to have it done, the problem, then becomes yours.

Before signing on the dotted line and making the biggest financial commitment of your life, here are three key reasons why you should pay for a building inspection before buying.

1. Uncovers issues not noticeable to the naked eye

Whether the property you're interested in buying is old or new, it's easy to miss problems that may have been disguised, or problems you don't notice until you start living in the house. A building inspector can help show you where a fresh coat of paint is actually covering up a major crack in the wall.

In some old homes, there is a fine line between its structure and appearance, and major problems like poorly installed flooring or bad wiring.

Building inspectors are pros at looking beneath the surface, and seeing things often missed. New modern houses are particularly clever when it comes to minimising things like power points and plumping making it easy to disguise potential flaws.

Never judge a book by its cover - the same goes for houses.

2. It can impact sale price

Dishing out a couple of hundred dollars for your house inspection could save you money on your mortgage.

If your inspection reveals a problem, you can negotiate with the seller to repair the issue before you agree to purchase.

An inspection will ultimately affect the value of the house, therefore you should make the purchase of the home subject to change based on your approval of the report.

3. Expose hidden flaws

There are many flaws that may be unforeseen or overlooked when doing an initial home open.

Unfortunately, some people do not notice how serious some of these flaws can be until they start having showers, using the gas, turning on electricity, using the air conditioning system etc. It's important to make sure that you actually ask for these things to be looked at in the inspection. Not all building inspections include electrical or plumbing work - you have to ask for it.

Some things a building inspection can bring to light are:

• Leaky faucets
• Water stains or corrosion to the walls backing onto the showers or baths
• Mould
• Internal and external cracks in the walls
• Rusted or corroded roof gutters
• Drain holes
• Bugs (termites, ants, cockroaches, spiders etc)

Lastly, make sure you go with a building inspector that has indemnity insurance, this will cover if something was missed. If something seems too good to be true, it may well be. So for your own peace of mind, it's a good idea to consider paying for a building inspection before you buy.